Some people will joke about being allergic to vegetables, as they reach for “junk food” instead. Shockingly, fruit and vegetable allergies are quite real and are on the rise. According to a report in Dairy Reporter, the number of people with allergies to fruits or vegetables is increasing exponentially.

Luckily, most allergic reactions to fruits and vegetables occur in the mouth rather than systemic allergic reactions like itching, labored breathing, dizziness or unconsciousness. Usually allergies to fruits and vegetables are characterized by itching and swelling in the mouth, which is referred to as oral allergy syndrome. Gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and intestinal cramps may occur once a fruit or vegetable is ingested and a histamine enters the digestive tract. Frequently, those who suffer from allergies to fruits and vegetables also have hay fever, asthma, or eczema.

Allergic disease specialists believe that allergies to fruits and vegetables are increasing quickly. It is children who seem to be the victims of this problem at the greatest rates. Studies indicate that if children do not have the opportunity to develop tolerance to potential allergens through exposure to them, they are more likely to experience allergic symptoms later in life. How severe is the condition? It is believed that allergies to fruits and vegetables could ultimately become more common than peanut allergies.
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