ALLERGY RESOURCES

COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - THE TOP 14 ALLERGENS AND BEYOND

COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - THE TOP 14 ALLERGENS AND BEYOND

PORK ALLERGY


Key Allergens

Pork is meat from pigs, they are in the family Suidae, which includes all species of hogs, warthogs, boar and pigs.

There is one allergen associated with an allergy to pork and that is Sus s 1, this is a serum albumin protein. These proteins are found in lots of other mammalian meats. As humans also have serum albumins in their body it is unusual to become sensitised to these proteins in other foods.

Pork is also linked to Alpha Gal Syndrome, this is a condition where a person has been 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 allergic syndrome as it is caused by a carbohydrate and not an allergenic protein. Alpha gal reactions are usually severe but delayed, which can distinguish them from a genuine IgE allergy to mammalian meat.

Food Intolerances

Food is low in FODMAP Food is low in salicylates

Most meats are low FODMAP foods, pork is no different. FODMAP stands for Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. Foods high in FODMAPs can cause symptoms of food intolerance, affecting the gastro intestinal system and this can be mistaken for a true IgE food allergy.

Meats are salicylate free so are suitable for people following a low salicylate diet. Salicylates have the potential to cause gastrointestinal food intolerance symptoms in people who are sensitive to salicylates.

You can read more about Food Intolerances on the dedicated Food Intolerance Page.

Associated Syndromes

There is some evidence of cross reactivity between eating pork and allergic reaction to cat skin. This is known as Pork-Cat Syndrome.

A more recent and commonly known syndrome associated with pork 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 beef and chicken.

This is also the case for Alpha-gal Syndrome, other mammalian and bird meats containing serum albumin may cause delayed IgE reactions.





Resources

Websites

Allergen Encyclopedia - Pork

DermNet NZ - Tick Bite Induced Red Meat Allergy

Anaphylaxis Campaign - Tick bites and allergic reactions to red meat

ACAAI - Meat Allergy

CDC - Alpha-gal Allergy


Articles and Journals

Addressing the emerging concern of tick-borne meat allergy in the U.S.: a call to action, 2024

A case of transient pork-cat syndrome in a child due to albumin sensitization, 2024

Clinical Use of the ImmunoCAP Inhibition Test in the Diagnosis of Meat Allergy Caused by a Tick Bite in an Adult Male with No Previous Atopic History, 2023

Tick Bites and Red Meat Allergy, 2023

The Role of Molecular Allergens in the Diagnosis of Cat-Pork Syndrome: An Unusual Case Report, 2022

Delayed reaction in alpha-gal allergy is reflected in serum levels after ingestion of pork kidney, and absorption is dependent on food processing, 2021

Recurrent urticaria caused by specific cat serum albumin IgE cross-reacting with pork serum albumin, 2020

Red meat allergy in children and adults, 2019

What Does a Red Meat Allergy Have to Do With Anesthesia? Perioperative Management of Alpha-Gal Syndrome, 2019

The alpha-Gal syndrome: new insights into the tick-host conflict and cooperation, 2019

Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose sensitization is a prerequisite for pork-kidney allergy and cofactor-related mammalian meat anaphylaxis, 2014

Initial description of pork-cat syndrome in the United States, 2013

Cat-pork syndrome: a case report with a thee years follow-up, 2006

Allergic cross-reactions between cat and pig serum albumin. Study at the protein and DNA levels, 1997

The pork-cat syndrome or crossed allergy between pork meat and cat epithelia, 1994



Let me know if you found any of these interesting or useful. If you spot an article or research that you think is interesting you can message me or tag me on Facebook or Twitter - links at the bottom of the page.


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