Question:
I recently developed what looks like a very severe allergic reaction to
food ( a veggie burger would you believe!!!), the paramedic said it
looked like peanut allergy. I don't think it's peanuts. Anyone else out there had a reaction to a well known UK brand of veggie
burger by any chance?
Answer:
It would be very interesting and helpful if you would tell us what your
reaction consisted of, and exactly what the label on the package tells you
is in the "burgers." Veggie burgers usually have a lot of soy in them. A lot of people have
reaction that are similar to peanuts when they eat soy Check the ingredients label; peanuts can cause a very severe
reaction including anaphylaxis. A more likely cause is soy. See: http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/IntMed/Allergy/FoodAllergy.html
Understanding Food Allergy
American Academy of Allergy and Immunology
International Food Information Council Foundation
Excerpt:
"Food Allergy Symptoms
Although allergic reactions can occur virtually to any food,
most reactions are caused by a limited number of foods:
milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, peanuts and
tree nuts such as walnuts.
Allergic reactions to foods usually begin within minutes to
a few hours after eating the offending food. But in
very sensitive people, simply touching or smelling the food
may produce an allergic reaction.
The most common symptoms of food allergy involve the
gastrointestinal tract, beginning with swelling or itching
of the lips, mouth and/or throat. When an offending food
enters the stomach, nausea, vomiting, cramping and
diarrhea may occur. Itching, hives, eczema and redness of
the skin also are common.
Some people may experience sneezing, a runny nose, shortness
of breath or other breathing difficulties.
Although food allergies can sometimes aggravate asthma, they
are not a common underlying cause of this respiratory illness.
However, people whose asthma can be triggered by food allergy
appear to have an increased risk of severe life-threatening
reactions.
Anaphylaxis is a rare but potentially fatal condition in
which several different parts of the body experience
food-allergic reactions at the same time. Symptoms may
progress rapidly and include severe itching, hives,
sweating, swelling of the throat, breathing difficulties,
lowered blood pressure, unconsciousness and even death.
