BEEF ALLERGY
Key Allergens
There are 12 allergens associated with cows, 3 of them relate to an allergy to consumption of meat (rather than to the milk they produce).
One of the allergenic proteins is a lipocalin, an allergen common in pet hair allergies. These proteins transport molecules like lipids and steroids around the body.
Serum albumin proteins are responsible for allergic reactions to mammalian meat in general, if allergic to many types of red meat then you may have Alpa-gal Syndrome.
If sensitised to Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) only, then you may have issues with eating beef and drinking cow's milk.
Serum albumin proteins are responsible for allergic reactions to mammalian meat in general, if allergic to many types of red meat then you may have Alpa-gal Syndrome.
If sensitised to Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) only, then you may have issues with eating beef and drinking cow's milk.
Associated Syndromes
An allergic syndrome associated with beef allergy is Alpha-gal syndrome. This is when a person is bitten by a tick. The tick passes on a carbohydrate called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (also known as alpha-gal). This carbohydrate causes an immune reaction to make IgE antibodies. This is an unusual syndrome as it is caused by a carbohydrate and not a protein and because it often causes delayed IgE allergic reactions unlike classic IgE reactions which are very quick.
Cross Reactivity
In extreme cases there may be some cross reactivity between other foods containing serum albumin proteins. These foods include other meats such as pork and lamb.
This is also the case for Alpha-gal Syndrome, other mammalian and bird meats containing serum albumin may cause delayed IgE reactions.
About 10% of cow's milk allergy sufferers will also react to beef when consumed.
This is also the case for Alpha-gal Syndrome, other mammalian and bird meats containing serum albumin may cause delayed IgE reactions.
About 10% of cow's milk allergy sufferers will also react to beef when consumed.
Resources
Websites
Science Direct - Galactose-alpha-1-3-galactose
DermNet NZ - Tick bite induced red meat allergy
Anaphylaxis Campaign - Tick bites and allergic reactions to red meat
Articles and Journals
Milk and cow’s meat allergy in a child: A clinical case
Red meat allergy in children and adults, 2019
The alpha-Gal syndrome: new insights into the tick-host conflict and cooperation, 2019
Bovine Serum Albumin: a double allergy risk, 2013
Beef allergy: a review of 12 cases, 2003
Anaphylaxis to cow's milk and beef meat proteins, 2002
Beef allergy in children, 2000
Molecular and crystal properties of Bos d 2, an allergenic protein of the lipocalin family, 1998
cDNA cloning and protein analysis of a bovine dermal allergen with homology to psoriasin, 1995
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