Latex is a product of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, it is in the Euphorbiaceae family of plants. It can not be used for food, but other edible plants in the family include cassava, used to make flour and tapioca and castor beans, which are used to make medicinal oils.

The rubber tree plant has 15 associated contact allergens.

The more common ones we know about are a hevein precursor protein, this allergen is important in cross reactivity with other foods containing hevein.

Patatin protein, is again important in cross reactivity.

Hev b 8 is a profilin profilin, these are panallergens found in many plants and foods.

Hev b 11 is a chitinase, these are proteins found in other foods and contribute to cross reactivity of latex.

Hev b 12 is a Lipid Transfer Protein (LTP), this is another panallergen and cause problems over multiple foods and plants.

An allergy to latex may give you the potential to be allergic to many foods and pollens, but many people only have contact allergic dermatitis with products containing latex only.

Latex is primarily linked to allergic contact dermatitis.

Latex is often associated with Latex Food Syndrome. This is where the body is initially sensitised to the latex plant and later becomes allergic to foods which contain similarly shaped proteins. You can download a Latex Food Syndrome Factsheet from the Allergy Resources Ko-fi Shop for just $0.90 (£0.69 or €0.82). This has up to date information on which foods contain latex linked allergens and what to avoid if you think you have Latex Food Syndrome.

Latex contains LTPs, this can link it to LTP Syndrome, where LTPs in multiple plants and foods cause allergic reactions.

The profilin proteins in latex can link it to an allergic syndrome called Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome, it is essentially a sub-category of Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome. The body mistakes the shape of a protein that it is already sensitive to (a plant pollen) to a similarly shaped protein in certain fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, and nuts. The symptoms of this are like oral allergy symptoms.

Turnips contain hevein, potatoes contain patatin and plants containing chitinase proteins are also found in chestnut, banana, avocado, pomegranate and maize (corn). These are all linked to Latex Food Syndrome. Airborne chitinase allergens are found in cockroaches, dust mites and coffee and might cause a problem for those who are very sensitive to latex.

Other plants containing airborne profilins are pigweed, ragweed, wormwood, birch tree, hemp, crocus, sunflower, olive, rice, plantain, poplar tree, mesquite, oak tree and maize (corn). Food containing profilins include pineapple, kiwi, celery, peanut, chilli, watermelon, muskmelon, hazelnut, orange, carrot, strawberry, soya beans, barley, walnut, lychee, lupin, apple, banana, dates, cherry, almond, peach, pear, mustard, tomato, aubergine and wheat.

Common foods involved in LTP allergy include kiwi, strawberries, sunflower seeds, walnut, apple, mulberry, banana, pea, apricot, cherry, plum, almond, peach pomegranate, raspberry, tomato, grape, celery, peanut, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, chestnut, lemon, tangerine, orange, hazelnut, lettuce, lentils, lupin, green bean, pear, mustard, wheat and maize.

Enolase is a less common allergen found in the rubber tree plant. In foods it is found in different types of fish and chicken, as an airway allergen it is ragweed, wormwood, grasses, yeasts and fungus.

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