Food Allergies in Adults: Fact or Fiction (ACAAI video)

From ACAAI: "It's summertime - which means farmer's markets and fresh produce. But sometimes produce such as celery, apples and melons, can also cause allergy symptoms. This is known as food pollen syndrome, cross-reacting allergens found in both pollen and raw fruits, vegetables and some tree nuts. Find our more about how to control food allergies on this video."



Oral allergy syndrome (OAS, pollen-food allergy syndrome) is contact urticaria of the oropharynx. OAS is caused by allergens in fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and peanuts that are homologous to pollen allergens.

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) occurs in patients with a prior cross-reactive aeroallergen sensitization and clinically presents with oralpharyngeal symptoms after ingestion of a triggering fruit or vegetable.

Although controversial, these symptoms may progress to systemic symptoms outside the gastrointestinal tract in 8.7% of patients and anaphylactic shock in 1.7%.

Typical cross-reactive associations:

BIRCH - Apple, peach, apricot, hazelnut, potato, carrot, celery
RAGWEED - Banana, cucumber, cantaloupe, watermelon, zucchini, cucumber
MUGWORT - Celery, onion, mustard, cabbage


Cross-reactivity in Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS) or Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) (click to enlarge the image).

I recommend the management of food allergy following the 4 simple steps below



Food allergy management in 4 steps (click to enlarge the image).