Quorn
Quorn is the brand name for a range of foods (usually vegetarian) made with 'mycoprotein' which originates from the mold Fusarium venenatum. Back in 1993, Tee et al (1) had already reported on the potential for mould allergic patients to react adversely to inhaled or ingested mycoprotein.
More recently, Hoff et al (2) note that there have been reports of adverse gastrointestinal reactions but no proof of actual allergy. Their study focused on one individual with a history of asthma and severe hypersensitivity reactions to ingested mycoprotein.
After various tests they concluded that sensitisation to mold allergens by the respiratory tract and subsequent oral ingestion of cross-reactive proteins can lead to severe food-allergic reactions.
In April 2003 CSPI (3) reported that More than 550 Britons and Americans have reported suffering vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, or anaphylactic shock after eating Quorn.
References
(1) Investigation of possible adverse allergic reactions to mycoprotein ('Quorn'). Tee RD, Gordon DJ, Welch JA, Newman Taylor AJ. Clin Exp Allergy 1993;23(4):257-60.
(2) Immediate-type hypersensitivity reaction to ingestion of mycoprotein (Quorn) in a patient allergic to molds caused by acidic ribosomal protein P2. Hoff M, Trueb RM, Ballmer-Weber BK, Vieths S, Wuethrich B. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;111(5):1106-10.
(3) http://www.cspinet.org/new/200304231.html
(1) Investigation of possible adverse allergic reactions to mycoprotein ('Quorn'). Tee RD, Gordon DJ, Welch JA, Newman Taylor AJ. Clin Exp Allergy 1993;23(4):257-60.
(2) Immediate-type hypersensitivity reaction to ingestion of mycoprotein (Quorn) in a patient allergic to molds caused by acidic ribosomal protein P2. Hoff M, Trueb RM, Ballmer-Weber BK, Vieths S, Wuethrich B. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;111(5):1106-10.
(3) http://www.cspinet.org/new/200304231.html
Further information on food intolerance can be found in The Food Intolerance Handbook.