Bee Sting Allergies from Grape Juice and Wine

Filed in archive Food Allergies , Insect Allergies on August 20, 2007

If it looks like food allergy and feels like food allergy, it is food allergy? Apparently not.

Terra Sigillata points to an article on The New England Journal of Medicine about 5 patients who had allergic reactions after drinking grape juice or newly pressed wines (both red and white). Three of the patients had an oral allergy syndrome and facial flushing, one had asthmatic symptoms, and one had anaphylaxis. At first glance, they seem appeared to be wine allergy, but upon closer inspection turned out to be a sensitivity to bees.

We report on five patients who presented with symptoms after drinking grape juice or newly pressed wines (both red and white). Three of the patients had an oral allergy syndrome and facial flushing, one had asthmatic symptoms, and one had anaphylaxis. Skin tests with conventional allergens, including commercial grape extract, egg white, and wines aged for up to 1 year, were negative. None of the patients had a history of ingesting drugs containing sulfites that was concomitant with these symptoms, nor had any of them been stung by Hymenoptera species. Yet all had positive skin tests for specific IgE antibodies (levels >0.35 kU per liter, CAP, Phadia) to Hymenoptera (Apis mellifera and vespula and polistes species) and to an extract of the wine or grape juice under suspicion for causing the symptoms.

So, yes, apparently, if you have allergies to bee sting, you also develop allergic reactions if you get exposed via the oral route.