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Anaphylaxis from Gummy Bears
Banana Allergy Confirmed Food Additives and Rhinitis How Much Peanut is too Much? Soy and Birch Links - Problem for Salicylate Sensitives? Anaphylaxis from Gummy Bears Scurlock et al outline the case of a young girl who experienced anaphylaxis after eating gummy bears. She was tested for allergy to the various ingredients but all results were negative. The authors concluded that she was reacting to the added "natural and artificial flavors" but because the manufacturers would not disclose the ingredients within these it was not possible for them to identify the exact culprit. The authors write: "Currently, vendors are reluctant to reveal the variable components of these flavorings. In light of the potentially life-threatening complications that can ensue from consumption of these products, cooperation with industry and improved labelling of all ingredients is essential." Anaphylaxis after ingestion of gummy bears Scurlock AM, Althage KA, Christie L, Burks AW, Jones SM. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;1(10) Banana Allergy Confirmed A study by Grob et al looked at the IgE responses in 4 individuals with a history of banana allergy but not latex allergy. Banana allergy was confirmed but they did not all react to the same allergen within banana. Heterogeneity of banana allergy: characterization of allergens in banana-allergic patients Grob M, Reindl J, Vieths S, Wüthrich B, Ballmer-Weber BK. Ann Allergy, Asthma, & Immun 2002;89:513-516. Food Additives and Rhinitis Asero describes 3 cases of food additive-induced rhinitis. After following an additive free diet, challenge tests were performed with various additives. Two individuals reacted to monosodium glutamate (MSG) and one to sodium benzoate. All three had severe rhinitis within 4 to 6 hours after the test. Symptoms lasted for 2 days in the two MSG intolerant individuals, and for 1 week for the individual sensitive to sodium benzoate. Food additives intolerance: A possible cause of perennial rhinitis Asero R. Letter to editor J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;1(10) How Much Peanut is too Much? Peanut allergy is one of the most common allergies and accidental ingestion has been known to lead to life threatening reactions. This study set out to try determine the threshold doses for individuals to assess their level of risk. Twenty six adults underwent double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges with increasing doses of peanut. The threshold doses for reactions ranged from a dose as low as 100 µg up to 1 g of peanut protein. Those with severe symptoms had lower threshold doses compared to those with mild symptoms. Most experienced reactions within 30 minutes, 2 of the individuals experienced additional symptoms 1-2 hours later. The authors conclude that a substantial part of a population with peanut allergy will react to very low amounts of peanut. In order for these individuals to buy food products safely there does need to be an accurate declaration of peanut content on the product, The distribution of individual threshold doses eliciting allergic reactions in a population with peanut allergy Wensing M, Penninks AH, Hefle SL, Koppelman SJ, Bruijnzeel-Koomen CAFM, Knulst AC. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;1(10):915-20. Soy and Birch Links - Problem for Salicylate Sensitives? Anaphylactic reactions to soy products have usually been attributed to stable class 1 food allergens. This study explored IgE reactions to a soy-containing dietary food product in 20 individuals allergic to birch pollen and found cross reactivity with a specific protein (mainly the PR-10 protein SAM22). Seventeen of the 20 involved in the study experienced immediate reactions when tested with the soy product. This study may, inadvertently, explain why some salicylate sensitives have a problem with certain soy products. Although soy contains no detectable levels of salicylate if there is some similarity in chemical structure (no matter how minor) to other plants that are high in salicylate then it is possible that a problem will arise although I think it unlikely that the reactions experienced would be the usual salicylate ones. Severe oral allergy syndrome and anaphylactic reactions caused by a Bet v 1-related PR-10 protein in soybean, SAM22 Kleine-Tebbe J, Wangorsch A, Vogel L, Crowell DN, Haustein U-F, Vieths S. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;110:797-804. |