Allergic to Latex – Avoid These Cross Reactive Foods

I stumbled upon this information while participating in a Facebook forum.  I had never considered my allergy to latex to be associated to foods!  After reading about cross reactive foods, it’s clear that I may have “missed the boat” on this for way too long!  I found that natural fruits and vegetables have varying degrees of natural latex.  It all made SO much more sense!

The conversation that sparked this research had to do with avocados and food allergies.  One of the forum members asked if the contributor was allergic to latex. Being highly allergic myself, I began my own personal research on this fascinating topic.

What Are Cross Reactive Foods?

Cross-reactivity occurs when the proteins in one substance are like the proteins in another. As a result, the immune system sees them as the same.  In the case of food allergies, cross-reactivity can occur between one food and another. Cross-reactivity can also happen between pollen and foods or latex and foods (source).

Cross reactivity isn’t only in latex, it’s also been linked to other food allergies.

• Cross-Reactivity Between Cow’s Milk and Milk from Other Mammals

• Cross-Reactivity Between Foods in the Same Animal Group (uncommon)

• Cross-Reactivity Between Peanut and Other Legumes (Soy and Beans) (50% of people react to skin tests)

• Cross-Reactivity Between Peanut and Tree Nuts or Seeds (35% of toddlers will develop an allergy to other nuts or seeds)

• Cross-Reactivity Between Fish (50% of people will have this issue)

• Cross-Reactivity Between Shellfish (75% risk of being allergic to other shellfish)

• Cross-Reactivity Between Latex and Foods (30 – 50 % experience allergies with foods associated with natural latex)

Allergic to Latex?  Avoid These Cross Reactive Foods

The America Latex Allergy Association has released this information about foods associated with latex.

“Recently, coincident IgE-mediated allergies to latex and multiple fruits or vegetables have been documented. In vivo and in vitro investigations of clinical specificity have produced complex patterns of allergenic cross-reactivity (suggesting shared or common antigenic components) among botanically-unrelated allergens such as latex and foods. While the details of the clinical association of latex and food allergies await further study, documentation of food allergies known to coexist with latex sensitivities may be useful for identifying the risks of latex exposure for some patients.

Which Foods Should You Avoid if You Are Allergic to Latex?

High Degree of Association 

• Avocados

• Bananas

• Chestnuts

• Kiwi

Moderate Degree of Association 

• Apple

• Carrot

• Celery

• Papaya

• Potato

• Tomato

• Melons

Low or Undetermined 

• Pear

• Mango

• Sweet Pepper

• Peach, Rye

• Cayenne Pepper

• Plum

• Wheat

• Shellfish

• Cherry

• Hazelnut

• Sunflower Seed

• Pineapple

• Walnut

• Citrus Fruits

• Strawberry

• Soybean

• Coconut

• Fig

• Peanut

• Chick Pea

• Grape

• Buckwheat

• Castor Bean

• Apricot

• Dill

• Lychee

• Passion

• Fruit

• Oregano Zucchini

• Nectarine

• Sage

• Persimmon

Whoa that’s a long but informative list of foods to avoid. If you’re allergic to latex, you may want to scan the list and test them out one by one over time to see how your body responds.  This will help you to determine how much they impact your body and your state of mind.  If you know someone who has latex allergies, or food allergies, this list could save them a lot of agony.  I wish I would have had this years ago!

Adria Ali