Beware the Kiwifruit!
Posted by Amber Robinson at 3:34 PM on April 28, 2009
The humble kiwifruit has emerged as neweset potentially deadly food allergen. Among school-aged Australian children, kiwifruit is estimated to cause about 10 per cent of all food allergic reactions and has been known to cause anaphylactic shock.
Doctors are alarmed at the increasing number of children suffering allergic reactions to fresh fruit and vegetables.
The number of Sydney children reacting allergically to fresh produce has doubled in the past 10 years with kiwifruit, melon and banana causing the most problems. Some specialists are blaming the rise on the spread of certain pollens that react with fruit and vegetables.
I must admit I thought I was pretty clued-up on anaphylaxis due to food allergies. But I had no idea fruit and vegetables were culprits.
Experts still don’t know why food allergy is on the rise. One suggestion is the hygiene hypothesis: that we’re living in a cleaner world and are not exposed to as many germs. As a result our immune systems aren’t tested by as many bacteria and so they react to foods instead.
Another theory is that food allergies are on the rise because children today have a more varied diet. For example more children are found to be allergic to sesame now that humous is widely eaten.
I hope scientists find some answers soon. The number of Australians who have food allergies is frightening. An Access Economics report found in 2007, 4.1 million Australians had at least one allergy and that figure was expected to rise by 70 per cent to 7.7 million by 2050.
[Source]
My oldest is allergic (not anaphylactic thankfully) to kiwi and avocado, according to the doctor who did the testing these are common cross allergens with latex (which my child is also allergic to).