Ever bite into a fresh peach or piece of melon and your mouth feels itchy, or your lips swell? It's not just in your head — it's called oral allergy syndrome [1] (OAS). Also known as pollen-food allergy syndrome, it happens when you eat certain raw fruits, veggies, or nuts that contain cross-reacting allergens. If you suffer from seasonal allergies [2] to birch, ragweed, grass, or mugwort pollen, your risk for OAS is increased. That's because your immune system can't tell the difference between pollen and the protein in certain trigger foods [3].
Aside from itching, tingling, or swelling around the lips, mouth, tongue, throat, or ears, other OAS symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, hives, dizziness, or diarrhea. Often symptoms are mild and show up immediately after eating the food, but reactions can take up to an hour. In some rare cases, shortness of breath or tightness in the throat can indicate a risk for anaphylaxis [5], similar to a peanut allergy [6]. If you experience these life-threatening symptoms, call 911.
Here's a list of foods to watch out for. Note that OAS reactions can be worse if you consume these foods at the height of pollen season. You can avoid symptoms by simply avoiding your trigger foods, but you could also try peeling, cooking, or eating frozen versions.
It's also important to know that even if you do suffer from seasonal allergies to birch, ragweed, grass, or mugwort pollen, you could be totally fine eating these foods. If you've never had an issue, there's no need to avoid them. It is possible to develop OAS symptoms to foods that previously didn't cause issues, so just be aware if you notice any issues.
Apples
Apples are a trigger food for allergies to birch or mugwort pollen.
Cantaloupe
If you suffer from allergies to ragweed or grass pollen, eating cantaloupe could be a trigger food.
Peaches
Peaches can be a trigger food for birch or grass allergies.
Bananas
Bananas may be a trigger food for allergies to ragweed pollen, as well as latex.
Almonds
If you have a birch pollen allergy, almonds could trigger OAS symptoms.
Kiwi
Allergic to birch or mugwort pollen, or latex? Kiwis could pose an issue.
Peppers
Bell peppers and other types of peppers can cause a reaction if you have an allergy to mugwort or birch.
Celery
Celery could be a potential trigger for oral allergy syndrome if you have a reaction to birch, grass, or mugwort.
Watermelon
Beware of watermelon if you have an allergy to ragweed or grass.
Courgette
If you're allergic to ragweed, courgette could be a trigger food.
Honeydew
If you have a ragweed or grass allergy, honeydew could trigger OAS symptoms.
Chamomile Tea
It may surprise you to know that drinking chamomile tea cold trigger OAS symptoms if you have a ragweed allergy.
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds can cause an OAS reaction if you have an allergy to mugwort or ragweed pollen.
Cherries
Cherries are a potential trigger food for a birch allergy.
Oranges
Oranges may be off-limits if you have a grass allergy.
Plums
If you're allergic to birch pollen, courgette could be a trigger food.
Cucmber
Oral allergy syndrome symptoms could be triggered by eating cucumbers if you have an allergy to ragweed pollen.
Tomatoes
Roma, cherry, beefsteak, and other varieties of tomatoes can cause an OAS reaction if you have an allergy to grass pollen. Fresh tomatoes might be the only ones to pose an issue; cooked in tomato sauce or ketchup may be fine!
Pears
Beware of pears if you have an allergy to birch pollen.