Asthma. For some, even a sip or two of wine can make their airways tighten and inflamed – and a common trigger is sulfites, added to wines as a preservative. (Contrary to popular belief, white wines usually have more sulfites than reds.) Even the wines labeled “sulfite-free” usually contain small amounts of the substance because [...]

Glycoproteins, which have similarities to big allergens like latex, ragweed and kiwi, may be the key culprit behind wine allergies.

Allergies to spices are difficult to detect and on the rise, says allergist Sami Bahna.

Allergen Where It Hides Alternate Names Other Foods     Corn: alcohol artificial flavorings and sweeteners (like aspartame and xylitol) baking powder confectioner’s sugar (corn starch) margarine Olestra/Olean cooking oil May contain corn (not always): acetic acid citric acid alpha tocopherol ascorbates ascorbic acid dextrose (also found in IV solutions in hospitals) fumaric acid gluconate [...]

Allergen Where It Hides Alternate Names Sulphites alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer and cider vinegar and wine vinegar wine baked goods with dried fruits bottled lemon/lime juices canned/frozen fruits, vegetables cereal, cornmeal, cornstarch, crackers condiments: horseradish, ketchup, mustard, pickles, relish and sauerkraut dehydrated potatoes, and frozen French fries dried fruits and vegetables, e.g. apricots, raisins, sweet [...]

When a family member has an allergy to sulphites or any food, reading is protection. Reading labels is a way of life when you or a member of your family has an allergy to sulphites, the food additive. Before eating anything in a package, be sure to read the label carefully. Look for hidden sources [...]

An OAS reaction usually comes on swiftly and can recede just as quickly. You’re sitting there eating and all of a sudden, your lips (or tongue and palate) begin to swell. There might tingle or itch at the back of your throat, or you might start to sneeze, have the urge to blow your nose [...]

If you have oral allergy syndrome, chances are that you also have seasonal allergies to pollen from trees such as birch and alder, or you’re allergic to ragweed or grass pollens. Roughly one-third of North Americans with pollen-related allergies are thought to be affected. It’s not clear why the other two-thirds of hay fever sufferers [...]

Mother always told you to eat your fruits and vegetables. Sometimes, Mother was wrong. A less severe form of food allergy, called oral allergy syndrome, is a reaction to proteins in common raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. It’s called “oral allergy” syndrome or OAS because its symptoms are usually limited to the lips, mouth, [...]

Consider the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s list of the top 10 food groups that cause the most frequent and severe allergic reactions. Nine of the names will be familiar to most Canadians — peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish and shellfish, soy, wheat and sesame seeds. But the tenth name on the list may surprise: [...]