Key Allergens

Carica papaya is a plant from the order Brassicales which produces fruit called papaya.

Only 1 allergen has been identified in papaya fruit and that is Cari p 1.

Cari p 1 is a polygalacturonase (PG) and is responsible in part for ripening of fruit. In food allergy PGs are responsible for oral allergy type symptoms as the patient first becomes sensitised to the pollen of this plant and then to the fruit.

It has been recorded that patients have suffered allergic reactions from both the fruit of the plant and from the pollen.

In early 2020 a chymopapain was identified, this is the most likely cause of the link to latex allergies.

Syndromes

Papaya has been loosely linked to Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome and Latex Food Syndrome.

You may have Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome if you suffer from allergic reactions to both the pollen and fruit of the papaya plant.

Latex Food Syndrome is caused by the body confusing the proteins it encounters in food to that of latex proteins to which it is already sensitised.

Cross Reactivity

Those with a sensitivity to chitinase may have linked allergies to foods which contain high levels of chitinase, like avocado, banana, chestnuts, corn (maize), kiwi, papaya, pomegranate and tomatoes.