Strawberry Allergies: Pick the White Ones Instead!

Filed in archive Food Allergies , Hay Fever , Living with Allergies on June 26, 2006

Summertime, strawberry time!

Two weeks ago, we went strawberry-picking. Truth be told, I really awasn't looking forward to bringing a basketful of strawberries, given that I still have a couple of jars of jam from alst year's trip. But picking is just so much fun, especially for my four year-old preschooler! We warned him however not to eat too much this time as he had tummy aches last year. If it was from allergies, or simply from putting every second fruit inside his mouth, we don't know.

Why are there people who have allergies to strawberries, anyway? Well, botanically speaking, strawberry is a nut, so it shouldn't be surprising. Swedish researchers have been able to identify the allergen that may cause itchiness and swelling in the mouth and throat. They say it's similar to the allergen in Birch pollen. But while it is common for those who have birch pollen allergies to develop secondary food allergies, for example to strawberries (see my previous entry on oral allergy syndrome), having one doesn't necessarily mean you'll also suffer from the other.

And here's something else: if you think you have allergies to strawberry, leave that red plump fruit and choose a white variety instead. They say that a white strawberry variety called Sofar is almost free of the allergen.

Hm, Sofar. So far, I haven't seen that variety in our area. Have you?