Do you avoid some fruits unless they are peeled or cooked?
Pollen-food allergy syndrome
Also known as oral allergy syndrome, pollen-food allergy syndrome affects many people who have hay fever. In this condition, certain fresh fruits and vegetables or nuts and spices can trigger an allergic reaction that causes the mouth to tingle or itch. In serious cases, the reaction results in swelling of the throat or even anaphylaxis.
Proteins in certain fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices cause the reaction because they’re similar to allergy-causing proteins found in certain pollens. This is an example of cross-reactivity.
Symptoms are typically triggered by eating these foods when they’re fresh and uncooked. However, when these foods are cooked, symptoms may be less severe.
The following table shows the specific fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices that can cause pollen-food allergy syndrome in people who are allergic to different pollens.
| If you are allergic to: | Birch pollen | Ragweed pollen | Grasses | Mugwort pollen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You also may have a reaction to: | Almond Apple Apricot Carrot Celery Cherry Hazelnut Peach Peanut Pear Plum Raw potato Soybean Some herbs and spices (anise, caraway seed, coriander, fennel, parsley) | Banana Cucumber Melon (cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon) Zucchini | Kiwi Melon (cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon) Orange Peanut Tomato White potato Zucchini | Apple Bell pepper Broccoli Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Celery Garlic Onion Peach Some herbs and spices (anise, black pepper, caraway seed, coriander, fennel, mustard, parsley) |
Related Reading/Sources
- Pollen Food Allergy Syndromes Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS), also known as oral allergy syndrome, is caused by cross-reacting allergens found in both pollen and raw fruits, vegetables, or some tree nuts.
- Common Foods that Trigger Oral Allergy Syndrome Cross-reactivity has been documented between birch pollen, mugwort pollen, grass pollens, ragweed, and Timothy grass with a variety of fruits, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, herbs, and spices.
- Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)—A Seasonal Mess? If you’ve ever bitten into a raw apple, banana, or piece of celery and experienced an itchy mouth, you’re not alone. This reaction occurs because the proteins found in some raw fruits and vegetables are similar to those found in plant pollen. Your body perceives these similarly structured proteins as pollen allergens.