Citrus fruits leave more than a sour taste for some of us… Meet the citrus allergy.

If you caught last week’s blog post, you learned that two new charms hit the AllerMates store – mustard allergy and… you guessed it, citrus allergy! You also learned that their arrival was timely, as more people are affected by these two types of food allergies every day.

Like the mustard allergy, I want to share some points with you on the citrus allergy to help create awareness and, in turn, safeguard our allergic kids. So here we go!

1. Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits… those are the citrus allergy culprits. And for those affected, an allergic reaction can happen from eating or touching one of these fruits, drinking their juice or even inhaling their particles that may be floating in the air.
2. The citrus allergy is often confused with oral allergy syndrome (OAS). OAS is a type of fruit allergy, which causes reactions in the mouth and usually develops in those who have a pollen allergy. (My son, Ben, started to develop OAS just a year ago!) Learn more about OAS here, and then know the difference because…
3. While considered uncommon, the citrus allergy can pack as big a punch as the top 8 allergens, even resulting in possible anaphylaxis. This makes it critical for folks with the allergy to carry epinephrine at all times.
4. Because citrus fruits can be dangerous in any form – drinks, baked goods and even health and beauty products, it also becomes very important for those with the citrus allergy to check labels and always ask if they don’t know.
5. The majority of those with the citrus allergy are older kids and adults, BUT anyone can get it. If you’re one who has to do without these good-for-you fruits that provide Vitamin C, seek other safe-for-you fruits and veggies, like red and green bell peppers, kale, broccoli, strawberries, pineapple, kiwi and more, to get the nutrients you need.

Finally, if you have a child with a citrus allergy, let others know so that you can help keep him or her safe when you’re not around. You can easily do that with our new citrus allergy charm. : ) Visit our store for details.

All the best,

Iris

P.S. Want to learn more about emerging food allergies? Sign up for my monthly newsletter, and get the goods.