NEW YORK -- It is called Oral Allergy Syndrome and there is an obvious culprit that starts to bloom in mid-August.
It’s ragweed.
There are 36 million people who suffer from ragweed allergy but a significant percent of these sufferers also have what used to be called pollen-Food Syndrome and is now known as Oral Allergy Syndrome.
It’s due to cross-reactivity between ragweed and similar proteins that are found in various fresh fruits and vegetables. The classic symptoms include itchiness, tingling and/or swelling of the mouth, tongue and throat.
One of the keys is that it happens immediately after eating fresh fruits, vegetable and other foods. Some of the common foods interacting with ragweed are banana, cucumber, zucchini and melon.
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