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Tag: Food Allergy

What is Alpha-gal Allergy?

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
Beef kabobs
Beef Kabobs
Photo: USDA Flickr

The next time you work outside or do outdoor recreation, be aware of ticks and protect yourself from tick bites. The Lone Star tick has been linked to causing allergic reactions after eating red meat.

The Lone Star tick is a vector that can spread disease. Mosquitos and fleas are other insects that spread disease. The Alpha-gal molecule is carried in the saliva of Lone Star ticks. People bit by this tick can become sensitive and produce the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody. Unlike typical food allergies, which is a reaction to protein, this is a reaction to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose. This carbohydrate is found in most mammals, such as red meat animals. It can also be in products made from mammals. It is not found in poultry or fish.

Symptoms include rash, hives, difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, nausea, and severe stomach pain. These symptoms can occur in 3-8 hours after eating red meat.

The Alpha-gal allergy can be severe, and potentially life-threatening. See a healthcare provider immediately for care.

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/ticks/alpha-gal/index.html and www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/alpha-gal-and-red-meat-allergy

 

Sesame—the Newest Food Allergen

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
sesame seeds
Sesame seeds on top of a loaf of bread.

Foods that cause allergic reactions can be life threatening. Up until now, there have been eight major food allergens. With the passage of the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research (FASTER) Act, the ninth major food allergen will be sesame. This is the first new allergen added to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) since 2006. The FASTER Act has been passed by the U.S. Congress and will likely be signed by the President into law.

There are more than 1.5 million Americans who are allergic to sesame. Until now, food products that contain sesame would list “natural flavors” or “natural spices.” This makes it almost impossible for consumers to know if the product contains sesame. Depending on the product, sesame may or may not be visible.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations requires major food allergens be clearly labeled on food products. If left undeclared, it can be life threatening. The allergen will be clearly listed within the ingredient statement or in a separate statement.

Undeclared food allergens have been the number one leading cause of Class I recalls by the FDA in the last three years. A Class I recall means the product could cause serious injury or death. The eight current major food allergens cause 90% of documented food allergen health issues.

 

Understanding “May Contain” Labeling Risks

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
According to an IFIC survey, 45% of consumers manage food allergies by reading labels. Photo: USDA Flickr

It is estimated that 32 million Americans have a food allergy. You probably know someone who has a food allergy. There are many theories as to the rise in food allergies. The bottom line is, self-management and reading labels are key in preventing food allergy reactions.

Food manufacturers are required by the FDA to label products containing any of the eight major food allergens either as an ingredients or from potential cross-contamination. They may also use precautionary labeling such as “may contain,” “manufactured in a facility that uses,” or “processed in a facility that uses” statements. So the food may or may not have a food allergen which leads to confusion.

Consumers must educate themselves by learning alternative names for food allergens, avoid products with no precautionary labeling, imported foods without specific labeling, and learning from others who have food allergies.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/31x1yHN.

 

Sesame Allergy: A Growing Concern

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
Sesame seeds range in color from white to black. This bread has white and black sesame seeds.

Those little seeds on top of hamburger buns look good, but to some people they are a health hazard. An estimated 1.5 million Americans have a sesame allergy. Should it be the ninth most common food allergy?

Sesame is found not only on top of buns but in many Asian dishes and in hummus made with tahini paste. Allergic symptoms include mild skin irritations and hives to anaphylactic reactions. Currently, the FDA does not require it on food labels. One state, Illinois, has made it a requirement. Other countries such as Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan require sesame allergen labeling. It may be in the near future for the U.S.

If you suspect you are allergic to sesame, take steps to find out for sure. See a board-certified allergist for diagnosis. Read food labels, all of them! Keep a food log to track what you eat. This is very helpful when seeing a doctor.

For more information and list of foods that may contain sesame, see https://foodinsight.org/sesame-food-allergen/.

 

What is Alpha-gal Allergy?

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
Beef Kabobs
Photo: USDA Flickr

The next time you work outside or do outdoor recreation, be aware of ticks and protect yourself from tick bites. The Lone Star tick has been linked to causing allergic reactions after eating red meat.

The Lone Star tick is a vector that can spread disease. Mosquitos and fleas are other insects that spread disease. The Alpha-gal molecule is carried in the saliva of Lone Star ticks. People bit by this tick can become sensitive and produce the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody. Unlike typical food allergies, which is a reaction to protein, this is a reaction to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose. This carbohydrate is found in most mammals, such as red meat animals. It can also be in products made from mammals. It is not found in poultry or fish.

Symptoms include rash, hives, difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, nausea, and severe stomach pain. These symptoms can occur in 3-6 hours after eating red meat.

The Alpha-gal allergy can be severe, and potentially life-threatening. See a healthcare provider immediately for care.

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/ticks/alpha-gal/index.html and www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/alpha-gal

 

Allergen in Red Meat Associated with Heart Disease

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
Lone Star Tick

Diets high in saturated fat may lead to heart disease. But, another potential factor could be a cause of heart disease, an allergen in red meat.

Research done at the University of Virginia has found a specific allergen called galactose-α-1,3-galactose, a sugar in red meat which can cause sensitivity in people bitten by the lone star tick. Prior research showed hints that this linkage was possible. Now, the specific allergen has been identified.

The specific antibody blood marker to this allergen has shown higher levels of fatty deposits inside arteries which could be associated with heart disease.

As a reminder, this is just a preliminary association. More research must be done to show that testing for this allergen will be helpful in managing heart disease.
Source: www.ift.org/IFTNEXT/110618.aspx

Lone Star tick www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf2653.pdf

 

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