Overview

Pollen food syndrome (PFS) is an allergic condition that causes mild symptoms. It's triggered by some fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts.

It is commonly found in people who have hay fever.

Most people can tolerate their ‘trigger foods’ if they have been heated or cooked (such as in desserts, as jam, or canned). This is because the structure of the food that causes PFS is destroyed by heating or the canning process.

PFS is sometimes called oral allergy syndrome.

Symptoms of pollen food syndrome

PFS can cause redness, itching and swelling within minutes of eating a trigger food. These can affect your:

• mouth
• lips
• tongue
• ears
• throat

You might also get:

• a runny nose
• sneezing
• eyes watering

These symptoms might also happen when you're preparing food (such as peeling them raw) as food particles are released into the air. Wearing gloves or putting the food under water to peel it might help.

There's an increased risk of severe symptoms if you eat a lot of the raw trigger food in a short space of time.

Causes of pollen food syndrome

The symptoms are caused by the structures of proteins in fruits, vegetables and nuts. They're similar in shape to proteins found in some tree, grass or weed pollens.

When you eat certain raw foods, your immune system mistakes the food protein for pollen protein, and this can cause symptoms.

Raw foods that commonly cause PFS include:

• fruits: apples, strawberries, oranges, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears and melons
• vegetables: carrots, potatoes, celery, tomatoes, and soy (soy milk)
• nuts: hazelnuts, almonds, and peanuts

Getting a diagnosis

A healthcare professional can often make a diagnosis after a consultation without needing any tests.

Treatment for pollen food syndrome

Most people only have mild symptoms that can be treated by rinsing their mouth and taking antihistamines.

Most people with PFS do not need an adrenaline auto-injector (a device for injecting adrenaline yourself).

Cooking foods

You only need to avoid your trigger foos when they are raw. You can continue to eat them if they're cooked or heated.

Stir-frying may not cook the vegetables enough to prevent symptoms. Steaming and microwaving are good cooking methods.

You should avoid fresh smoothies that contain any of your trigger foods.

Support and more information

We have partnered with Allergy UK and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust to produce an animation about pollen food syndrome.

Allergy UK Helpline: 01322 619898