Be Wary of Certain Foods If You Have a Latex Allergy

In my quest to find out more about nutrition, I have discovered some information that could be vital to those who are allergic to latex.  I really had no idea that certain foods can cross-react in those who have a latex allergy.  Our wonderful Physician Assistant intern, Ginna, called this to my attention one day, and  I was eager to find out more about this “Latex Food Syndrome”.

While many people who are allergic to latex know how to avoid rubber gloves, condoms, some bandages, and other products made with latex, few people realize that some foods can trigger an allergic reaction as well.  While there are no foods that actually contain latex protein, some foods and plants contain compounds similar to that of latex protein.  These foods can cause allergic reactions in people, sometimes severe.  This happens due to a phenomenon called “cross-reaction”, in which two or more products contain the same allergen and provoke the same response.

In addition to those foods listed below, genetically engineered or modified foods may be developed from genes of other foods, but the ingredient lists may be unclear regarding the source of the gene.  This can also present a threat to anyone allergic to latex, because if a person who is allergic to latex eats a genetically modified food containing genes from a food containing a protein similar to latex, they could have an allergic reaction.

The following is a list of foods that may produce a cross-reaction in those who suffer from a natural rubber latex allergy:

• Bananas

• Avocados

• Kiwis

• Plums

• Peaches

• Cherries

• Apricots

• Nectarines

• Figs

• Papayas

• Mango

• Passion Fruit

• Tomatoes

• Celery

• Carrots

• Bell peppers

• Zucchini

• Turnips

• Potatoes

• Melon

• Chestnuts

• Hazelnuts

• Wheat

• Rye

• Eggplant

• Pineapple

How common is the Latex-Food Syndrome?  In those with latex allergy, almost 70%  will have a positive allergy test to a related food, and 50% will have a positive allergy test to more than one food.  Many of these positive skin tests do not necessarily mean that a person will have an allergic reaction if they eat the food, but certainly this is a possibility.  And, the more of a potential food allergen that is consumed, the more likely an allergic response will occur.  In reverse, if a person is known to have an allergy to a food related to latex, there is an 86% chance that they will test positive for latex allergy.

What are symptoms of an allergic reaction?  Most people who have allergies, whether to food, pollens, dust, animal dander, or latex, know the symptoms they have during a reaction.  With food allergies, reactions can range from mild (itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, mild congestion, flushing or skin rash), to more moderate symptoms (wheezing, hives, itching or swelling of skin), to severe reactions (chest tightness, trouble breathing, swelling of the throat or tongue).

In those people who have a known allergy to latex, it is important to evaluate for the possibility of food allergy to various fruits, vegetables, and grains.   Keep your diet simple, and know exactly what you are consuming.  If you suspect that you may have some food allergies, keep a food diary, noting what you have eaten and when, and any allergic symptoms you have after eating.  And, see an allergist if you have latex allergy, so that it can be safely determined which foods present a problem for you.

Blessings to you!

Nurse Anne