For allergy and asthma sufferers, it is important to be constantly on top of updates to the trigger list, as well as industry notifications about new medications or preventative measures. In a recent – and somewhat surprising – new release, there could be yet another thing to look out for at the grocery store when it comes to avoiding food allergies.
According to a new study, food allergy sufferers could be allergic to the antibiotics that are used to keep pests away from fruits and vegetables while they grow and when they are stored. The study uses a ten-year-old girl as a primary example. The child ate a piece of blueberry pie and while she also suffered from asthma, seasonal allergies and milk and penicillin allergies, there was nothing in the pie that should have caused such a severe reaction.
Researchers on her case discovered that the problem in this situation was with pesticide used to treat the blueberries used for the pie. The antibiotic pesticide – in this case, streptomycin – is a commonly used remedy for keeping bacteria, algae and fungi off of fruits and vegetables.
While the U.S. and Canada still allow the use of antibiotics in the growth of food stuffs, a new federal rule could reduce the levels that are permitted for this purpose.
"This is a very rare allergic reaction," said allergist and president-elect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Dr. James Sublett, in a statement to Health Day. "Nevertheless, it's something allergists need to be aware of and that emergency room personnel may need to know about in order to help determine where anaphylactic reactions may arise. Anyone who is at risk for a life-threatening allergic reaction should always carry epinephrine. They also need to know how to use their epinephrine in an emergency situation."
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