Allergy to Fruit- Anaphylaxis Campaign

The purpose of this article

A large number of fruits have been reported to cause allergic reactions. If you know or believe you are allergic to any fruit, or fruits, this article may help you understand your allergy. While we have concentrated on those fruits that are most common in the diets of UK people, we realise that there are other fruits that may not be covered in this article.

What is a food allergy?

Food allergy occurs when a person’s immune system reacts inappropriately to proteins in a food. The first stage of the process is called sensitisation – when the immune system’s “memory” registers the food as a possible threat. Antibodies to that food are produced and, at a subsequent encounter, these antibodies may connect with the food’s proteins and trigger the release of certain substances in the body, such as histamine. This results in an allergic reaction. Some people, however, are sensitised to a food but never have an allergic reaction to it.

In the case of allergy to fruit, there are two types of allergy.

Types of allergy to fruit

Pollen food syndrome (also referred to as pollen food allergy syndrome)

Pollen food syndrome usually occurs in people who are already allergic to pollens and suffer from hayfever, although the symptoms due to hay fever can be very mild. People with pollen food syndrome experience allergic symptoms when they eat certain fruits or vegetables. This is due to the similarities between the proteins found in pollen and those present in the fruits and vegetables. Symptoms are usually mild and may respond to antihistamines but it is important to consult your doctor to confirm that this is the right treatment.

Symptoms of pollen food syndrome usually include:

Redness, mild swelling or itching of the lips, tongue, inside of the mouth, soft palate and ears
Itching and mild swelling affecting the throat.
Occasionally, people might also experience symptoms in the oesophagus (gullet) or stomach, causing abdominal pain, nausea and even vomiting.
Sneezing, runny nose, or eye symptoms can also occur.
Rarely, more severe symptoms (such as difficulty in swallowing and breathing difficulties), known as anaphylaxis, can occur. In such cases, immediate medical help is needed.

The proteins that cause pollen food syndrome are not very strong and are often changed by heating or acid in the stomach. It is thought that this is why people with pollen food syndrome are less likely to have a severe reaction than those with other food allergies. Most sufferers of pollen food syndrome experience allergy symptoms if they eat the raw fruit, but are able to eat the same food if cooked without any problem.

Although pollen food syndrome can be mild, it is possible that more severe reactions might occur if large quantities of the problem foods are rapidly consumed. For example a fruit smoothie or fresh vegetable juice can contain a lot of the allergens which cause the reaction, so these should be avoided.

Some medical professionals refer to pollen food syndrome as oral allergy syndrome, although strictly speaking the two are not the same. When the term oral allergy syndrome was first used in 1987 it had no connection with pollen allergy but referred to any allergic symptoms in the mouth that often preceded more serious symptoms. The Anaphylaxis Campaign prefers the term pollen food syndrome when referring to those allergy symptoms to food that are linked to pollen allergy, are limited to the mouth and throat, and are usually mild. Many people with fruit allergy are in this category.

Food intolerance

Some people who experience symptoms when they eat a food do not have a true allergy, but rather a food intolerance. Whereas food allergy is a reaction of the immune system, food intolerance may have a different cause. A much wider range of symptoms can occur. There may be migraine and unexplained fatigue, abdominal pain, bloating and frequent diarrhoea, unexplained muscle and joint pains or unexplained nasal congestion and discharge. Food intolerance to fruits could be part of a wider intolerance to foods because of a sensitivity to naturally occurring ‘food chemicals’ in the fruit, or due to an inability to properly digest fructose, the natural sugar found in many fruits.

The key message

Medical advice is required in all cases where fruit causes symptoms. This will determine what type of allergy you have. Is it pollen food syndrome or is it in the more serious category? Or do your symptoms have a non-allergic cause such as food intolerance?

Species of fruits that can trigger allergies

Any fruit has the potential to cause an allergic reaction. The following is not a complete list.

Apple
Avocado
Banana
Cherry
Citrus fruits
Kiwifruit
Mango
Melon
Nectarine
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Strawberry
Plum
Tomato

If you are allergic to one of more of the above fruits, this does not necessarily mean you will react to any others in the list. However with some fruits there is a possibility that you will. Medical advice is needed in all cases of allergy to fruit.

Because kiwifruit and banana are the most common causes of fruit allergy within our own membership, we have written separate guidance notes on these.

Getting a diagnosis

If you suspect you have a food allergy, it is important to see your GP as soon as possible. Some GPs have a clear understanding of allergy, but allergy is a specialist subject so your doctor may need to refer you to an allergy clinic. Anyone who has suffered anaphylaxis should certainly be referred.

Your GP can locate an allergy clinic in your area by visiting the website of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (www.bsaci.org).

Once you get a referral, the consultant will discuss your symptoms with you in detail as well as your medical history. Skin prick tests and blood tests may help form an accurate picture. When doubt remains, the consultant may suggest a “food challenge”– where the patient eats a small amount of the suspect food, increasing the dose gradually, to test whether or not a reaction occurs. This must only be done by an experienced consultant in a medical setting.

If symptoms triggered by fruit occur only in the mouth, the likelihood is that your allergy will remain mild but medical advice on this must be sought.

The presence of asthma – especially when poorly-controlled – is known to be a major risk factor for the occurrence of more severe allergic reactions. We recommend that everyone with asthma should be seen at least once each year by their GP or asthma nurse to ensure their symptoms are well managed.

Reviewers

The content of this Factsheet has been Peer Reviewed by Dr Isabel Skypala, Clinical Lead for Food Allergy, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust; and Dr Paul Turner, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London. Neither reviewer has any disclosures in relation to this article.

Our sources

All the information we produce is evidence based or follows expert opinion and is checked by our clinical and research reviewers. If you wish to know the sources we used in producing any of our information products, please let us know, and we will gladly supply details.

About the Anaphylaxis Campaign: Supporting people with severe allergies

The Anaphylaxis Campaign is the only UK wide charity to exclusively meet the needs of the growing numbers of people at risk from severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) by providing information and support relating to foods and other triggers such as latex, drugs and insect stings. Our focus is on medical facts, food labelling, risk reduction and allergen management. The Campaign offers tailored services for individual, clinical professional and corporate members.

Visit our website www.anaphylaxis.org.uk and follow us on Twitter @Anaphylaxiscoms.

Published: Oct 2016

Review date: Oct 2019