Fruit Pectin Allergies

An allergic reaction to fruit pectin is rare but possible. According to Drugs.com, testing that concludes an immunoglobulin E antibody, or IgE, reaction occurs when you ingest fruit pectin will confirm you have an allergy to fruit pectin 1. Some allergic reactions to fruit pectin might be related to another food-related allergic reaction, oral allergy syndrome 3. If you notice your only symptom is your mouth feeling itchy after eating certain fruit pectin, you might have this condition. Talk with your doctor about all your symptoms.

Ingested Fruit Pectin

Fruit pectin commonly is found in the skin and flesh of fruit. Pectin is a fiber that can help aid in digestion, but for some people, an allergic reaction occurs, making pectin a substance to be avoided. After you ingest fruit pectin, your immune system overreacts to the substance and unleashes various chemicals to fight it off. When this occurs, tissues throughout your body become inflamed, leading to common allergic reaction symptoms, such as:

• asthma
  
• sinus congestion
  
• skin rashes
  
• digestive issues

Oral Allergy Syndrome

Oral allergy syndrome is a food-related allergic reaction that occurs when you eat a fruit that is related to a tree, weed or grass pollen 3. If you suffer from hay fever, you are more likely to develop this condition. Your body mistakes the proteins in fruit pectin as pollen, to which you are allergic. This doesn’t cause your entire body to react, just your mouth, throat and lips. Common symptoms related to this reaction are itching, burning or stinging in your lips, tongue, throat or mouth. Rarely does this condition lead to any other allergic reactions.

Treatment

Treat ingested fruit pectin allergies by calling your doctor and taking an oral antihistamine. Oral allergy syndrome is treated by identifying the fruit and pollen that trigger your allergy symptoms. Once identified, your doctor might recommend removing the fruit and pollen from your diet. In some cases, cooking the fruit before you eat can help reduce symptoms. In severe cases, immunology, or allergy shots, might help improve this condition. If you develop a severe allergic reaction, you will require emergency medical attention. A severe allergic reaction can lead to death if not treated promptly. Call 911 immediately if you develop one of the following: facial swelling, the inability to breathe or feeling faint.

Testing

To diagnose and confirm that you’re allergic to fruit pectin, your doctor will perform allergy tests. Allergy tests use a small amount of the proteins from the fruit pectin and inject it under the top layer of your skin. If you’re allergic to the substance, your skin will become inflamed and red within 15 minutes.