Kiwi fruit allergy

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Kiwi fruit was first introduced to the UK in the 1970s. Since then it has become a popular fruit in the UK diet.

A number of people have reported allergic reactions to kiwi fruit. Some of these reactions have been severe, especially in children, and the number of people reacting to kiwi fruit appears to be increasing. This may be linked to a general increase in allergic diseases, as well as kiwi fruit becoming more popular.

In adults, allergy to kiwi normally appears in people who are allergic to latex or birch pollen, because these contain similar allergens to kiwi fruit. See the section on latex-food syndrome.

In adults, the symptoms of kiwi allergy are normally quite mild, but in children the condition can be more serious and can occasionally cause anaphylaxis. Experts don't understand fully why adults and children seem to react differently to kiwi. It could be connected with the age at which they first began to eat kiwi, or it's possible that adults and children react to different allergens in the fruit.

People who are allergic to kiwi should avoid the fruit (as raw fruit, puree or juice). Most people who have been eating kiwi on a regular basis are unlikely to react.

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