Strawberry Allergy Test

This IgE antibody allergy test uses a blood sample to determine if you are allergic to Strawberries. Strawberries are a sweet fruit that grows on low, runner-bearing plants, and they are a great source of nutrients and antioxidants. 

Common Foods and Items with Strawberry

Strawberries are commonly eaten fresh, dried, and in processed food products and desserts. 

Foods that contain strawberries include:

• Jellies, jams, and preserves
• Flavor syrups
• Juices
• Smoothies
• Ice cream
• Cakes
• Cheesecakes
• Pies
• Some salads

Strawberries are also used in other products. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked, and used as a tea substitute. Strawberry fruit and leaves are used in various herbal remedies, and the fruit is also used as an ingredient in skin care creams and tooth-whiteners.

The allergy potential of strawberries can vary based on the variety, ripeness, and processing method. That being said, whether you are able to eat strawberries of any kind will depend on the nature and severity of your allergy. 

Strawberries have multiple potentially allergenic proteins. Compared to red strawberries, colorless (white) strawberries have a lower amount of allergens. Some allergenic proteins are heat-sensitive. This means that allergy potential can be lower in fruits that have been heated during drying or processing. In addition, strawberries belong to the Rosaceae family of fruit, and reactions to these fruits are often associated with a protein similar to birch pollen. People with a strawberry allergy may have reactions to other fruits from the Rosaceae family, including apples, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries.

Exposure Route

• Through consumption: eating strawberries or foods containing strawberries

Strawberry Allergy Reactions

If you are allergic to strawberries, you may suffer from digestive, respiratory, or skin problems after eating strawberries. This is because your body identifies strawberries as a harmful substance, and your immune system acts defensively. 

Your body develops antibodies to stop the substance, and the antibodies send out histamine and other chemicals. This triggers an allergic reaction and inflammation. Usually allergic reactions to strawberries are mild, but they can be serious and even life-threatening.

Strawberry allergy symptoms include:

• Itching
• Swelling
• Burning or prickling in the mouth and lips
• Hives
• Itchy, runny, or blocked nose
• Sneezing
• Upset stomach
• Abdominal cramps
• Tightness of the throat
• Trouble breathing
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of consciousness
• In extreme cases, anaphylaxis (a potentially deadly allergic reaction)

HealthLabs.com offers a quick, relatively painless blood allergy test. By measuring IgE antibodies, this test helps determine allergen status without suffering the irritation of traditional skin prick tests.

• Quick sample collection at any of our 4,500+ U.S. testing centers
• Accurate results within 1 to 3 days

Sources

1. “Strawberry.” Thermo Scientific. http://www.phadia.com/da/Products/Allergy-testing-products/ImmunoCAP-Allergen-Information/Food-of-Plant-Origin/Fruits/Strawberry/
2. Allergy Information for: Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa). The University of Manchester. http://research.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/informall/allergenic-food/index.aspx?FoodId=75 
3. Rikard Alm. “Proteomic variation is as large within as between strawberry varieties.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17608511
4. Elisabeth Kurze, Vanessa Kock, Roberto Lo Scalzo, Klaus Olbricht, and Wilfried Schwab. “Effect of the Strawberry Genotype, Cultivation and Processing on the Fra a 1 Allergen Content.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6073608/