Food allergies affect just 1 to 4 percent of the population, according to the Beaumont Health System. Strawberries are not one of the eight most common food allergens --- milk, peanuts, fish, wheat, soy, tree nuts, eggs and shellfish --- which account for 90 percent of all food allergies, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network website reports. Strawberries can cause oral allergy syndrome, which causes allergic symptoms in the mouth and throat.
Symptoms
Strawberry allergy can cause itching in the mouth or throat. Your baby's lips may become swollen. Her tongue, eyes, nose and gums can also swell, itch or become irritated. Respiratory symptoms such as asthma, difficulty breathing or wheezing can occur along with skin rashes or hives. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can also occur. Symptoms normally occur within 45 minutes after ingestion.
Cross-Reactions
People who have an allergy to tree pollens may develop cross-reactions to fruits and vegetables, including strawberries. A baby with an allergy to birch pollen may also develop symptoms when exposed to strawberries or other fruits. Cross-reactions, unlike many food allergies, affect adults more than children. Symptoms may worse in the spring and fall, when pollen is at its worst.
First Exposure
At one time, experts told parents to wait until their baby reached 1 year of age before serving strawberries. Thinking has changed: In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that a delay in serving babies certain potentially allergenic foods did not appear to have an affect on whether a baby developed allergies. Babies can eat berries any time after 6 months, pediatrician Dr. Frank Greer tells the BabyCenter website.
Precautions
Babies who have oral allergy syndrome often do not have a reaction to cooked or processed strawberries, since the allergen that cause the reaction doesn't survive cooking. Babies with a strawberry allergy may also have reaction to other fruits, including apple, pear or apricot, as well as reactions to nuts such as hazelnut or vegetables like celery or carrots. Discuss your baby's diet and any reactions to food with his pediatrician. Never give your baby any medication to treat an allergic reaction without doctor's approval.
References
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Food Allergy Research and Resource Program: Fruits
- Beaumont Health System; Lab Test Directory: Strawberry; July 12, 2011
- InformAll Database; Strawberry; October 2006
- Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network: Allergens
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Oral Allergy Syndrome; December 2003
- BabyCenter: When Can My Baby Eat Berries?
