ALLERGY CROSS-REACTIVITY

Cross-Reactivity

Cross-reactivity occurs when your body's immune system identifies the proteins in one substance (e.g. pollen) and the proteins in another (e.g. fruit & vegetables) as being similar. When you come into contact with either, whether it’s a protein in something that you are truly allergic to or not, your immune system can react in the same way, which can then cause your allergic symptoms.

All that matters, to your immune system, is that the proteins are structurally similar or biologically related and cross-reactivity can occur. The risk of cross-reactivity needs to be assessed by a healthcare professional, and important foods should never be removed from a diet without a confirmed diagnosis.

Cross-reactivity occurs when your body's immune system identifies the proteins in different substances as being structurally similar or biologically related

COMMON EXAMPLES OF CROSS-REACTIVITY

There’s a high degree of cross-reactivity between cashew and pistachio¹ and between walnut, hazelnut and pecan,² so some healthcare professionals may advise you to avoid all tree nuts even if you only have a confirmed allergy to one.

There’s also a high degree of cross-reactivity between different fish species,³ so healthcare professionals may advise their fish-allergic patients to avoid all fish.

And studies have found that the risk of an allergic reaction to goat's milk or sheep's milk in a person with a cow’s milk allergy is about 90%.⁴

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)

A common cross-reaction is between birch pollen and stone fruit/kernel fruit such as apples, cherries and pears. If you have a pollen allergy and have experienced an itchy mouth or throat after eating fresh fruit or raw vegetables, you may have Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS).

OAS, sometimes also called Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS), is usually a temporary and relatively mild condition due to cross reactivity. Some plant foods contain proteins that are similar to the proteins in plant pollens, so for people with OAS, their immune system mistakes the food proteins for the pollen proteins, and they’ll then have a reaction. It is important to remember that not everyone who is allergic to birch pollen reacts allergically to stone and kernel fruits.

Learn more about OAS

In OAS, the immune system mistakes food proteins for pollen proteins, causing an allergic reaction

Different reactions for different allergies

Not every patient with a pollen allergy will experience a cross reaction with food. Explore below to find the most common culprits of OAS-related reactions.

References

Fernández C, Fiandor A, Garate-Martinez A, et al.. Allergy to pistachio: cross reactivity between pistachio nut and other Anacardiaceae. Clin Exp Allergy. 1995; (12):1254-9.
Goetz DW1, Whisman BA, Goetz AD. Cross-reactivity among edible nuts: double immunodiffusion, crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and human specific igE serologic surveys. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2005;95 (1):45-52.
Yukihiro Kobayashi, Jiletu Huge, Shintaro Imamura, NaokoHamada-Sato. Study of the cross-reactivity of fish allergens based on a questionnaire and blood testing. Allergol Int. 2016;65 (3):272-279.
Rangel, A et al. Lactose intolerance and cow’s milk protein allergy. Food Sci. Technol, Campinas, 2016;36 (2):179-187.