Is Apple an allergen?

Some people find that biting into an apple may cause tingling, itching or swelling of the
tongue or lips, this may very well indicate an allergy. It is referred to as oral allergy
syndrome (OAS) and apples are a prime example of a fruit that is often associated with this
syndrome.

However, apple allergies are rare, and most people with apple allergies are able to drink apple
juice without a reaction. People with apple allergies usually react only to the raw fruit.
Cooking the apples should destroy the allergen, and most individuals do not react to apple
juice, applesauce or other prepared forms of apple. It is the raw apples that cause the reaction.

OAS

OAS has been found to be related to pollen allergies, including birch pollen, grass pollen, and
weed pollen. In fact, the proteins found in raw apples are similar to those found in birch
pollen and weed pollen. For this reason, the body reacts by treating this protein as an invader
and starts to fight it off resulting in a reaction.

At which concentration is it harmful?

The amount of allergen in the fruit is influenced by the apple variety, the degree of maturity
and storage conditions. Whereas over-mature and freshly harvested fruits have highest levels
of the allergen, long storage increases the levels of pollen-related allergen. In a small group
of patients with birch pollen related apple allergy it was shown that 5 grams of an apple gave
a reaction. This is a small bite of apple (an average apple is 200-250 grams).

Sources:

1. NIAID-Sponsored Expert Panel. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of

Food Allergy in the United States: Report of the NIAID-Sponsored Expert Panel. The
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Volume 126, Issue 6, Supplement ,
Pages S1-S58, December 2010.
2. WEBBER, C., ENGLAND R.W., 2010. Oral allergy syndrome: a clinical, diagnostic,
and therapeutic challenge, PP. 104:101108.
3. University of Manchester, Journal of Science and health.