Pollen and Food Cross Reactivity
Pollen allergic individuals often present allergic symptoms after ingestion of several kinds of plant derived foods.
Vieths et al believe that the majority of these reactions are caused by four distinct cross-reactive structures that are present in birch pollen. The major birch pollen allergen is Bet v 1. Proteins that share common epitopes with this allergen occur in several plant species including apples, stone fruits, celery, carrot, nuts, and soybeans.
They found that 70% of their patients who are allergic to birch pollen were also likely to experience symptoms after eating foods from these groups. Other protein similarities have been found with other fruit and vegetables and this gives major concern as these are often defence related proteins which are often encouraged to develop in plants.
Current understanding of cross-reactivity of food allergens and
pollen.
Vieths S, Scheurer S, Ballmer-Weber B.
Ann N Y Acad Sci 2002;964:47-68.