# Am I allergic to Kiwi? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537 "2005-07-21T21:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/1 "2005-07-21T21:46:31Z")
The fruit, not the bird or the shoe polish. Whenever I eat them, my mouth gets a little tingly, I can taste sourness in my jaw, and my mouth salivates a lot. It goes away after a few minutes but I wonder if maybe I am mildly allergic to them? -foxy ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/2 "2005-07-21T21:47:49Z")
The same thing happens to me. I always thought it was just what kiwis did. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/3 "2005-07-21T23:14:20Z")
I haven’t heard that it happens to anyone else. I think maybe it’s a slight allergy, I’ve heard some people have had the same reaction to celery. -foxy ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/4 "2005-07-21T23:24:51Z")
Are you eating them while they’re firm? Try letting them get soft, like the texture of a ripe peach. Underripe fruit can be puckery, and not very palatable. You might consider peeling them, I prefer them that way,although the skin is edible. The tiny hairs on the skin may be causing this temporary condition. Perhaps you may be ingesting chemical sprays used to prolong shelf life, wash them thoroughly with a drop of dish soap and warm water. The wet peel goes down easier as well, because you don’t notice the hairs so much. Be a shame to give up such a tasty and nutrient-packed food. ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/5 "2005-07-21T23:28:32Z")
Kiwis are known to cause allergic reactions in people with food allergies. Here is more info: [http://www.news-medical.net/?id=3139](http://www.news-medical.net/?id=3139) ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/6 "2005-07-22T00:37:19Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > The same thing happens to me. I always thought it was just what kiwis did. LOL. Someone at work mentioned taking her son to an allergist and finding out that he was allergic to avocado. He’s also got seasonal allergies. I’ve got pretty severe seasonal allergies. It never occured to me that I might also be allergic to foods and other things. (Duh.) Anyway, I said the exact same thing to her when she said her son complained that avocado hurt his throat. Avocado makes the back of my mouth and throat itch like _crazy_. I always thought it was just what avocados do. Doesn’t matter to me. I love the taste too much to stop eating them. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/7 "2005-07-22T01:14:20Z")
I’m allergic to kiwis, too, although very mild. And it’s the same reaction I get to shellfish, funny enough. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/8 "2005-07-22T01:41:15Z")
No, I always eat them soft and never eat the skin. I usually slice them in half to make two little bowls and scoop the fruit out with a spoon. They are always ripe and not too mushy. I thought that’s what kiwis did too, it was never terribly discomforting, just mildly annoying for about 20 minutes after I eat them. BTW, I don’t have any other food allergies that I know of. -foxy ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/9 "2005-07-22T03:12:28Z")
Heh, isn’t that the point of kiwis? I love the tingly feeling. I get it too eating pineapple. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/10 "2005-07-22T04:25:39Z")
Is anyone else reminded of that Bloom County cartoon where Opus calls 911 after eating an underripe banana? ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/11 "2005-07-22T05:39:40Z")
> [@psycat90](#): > > LOL. Someone at work mentioned taking her son to an allergist and finding out that he was allergic to avocado. He’s also got seasonal allergies. > I’ve got pretty severe seasonal allergies. It never occured to me that I might also be allergic to foods and other things. (Duh.) > > Anyway, I said the exact same thing to her when she said her son complained that avocado hurt his throat. Avocado makes the back of my mouth and throat itch like _crazy_. > I always thought it was just what avocados do. > > Doesn’t matter to me. I love the taste too much to stop eating them. Yes, it is very likely an allergy. Kiwis are related to ragweed, as are strawberries. If you are allergic to ragweed, be very careful around kiwis and strawberries. **psycat90** , you’d better stop eating avocados right away, no matter how good they taste. That type of reaction can literally turn into anaphylactic shock overnight. It happened to my mom with peanuts - one day she ate some and her mouth got tingly, the day after she had some more and her lips swelled up. She went to the allergist, who told her that the next time she ate peanuts, the resulting reaction could very well close up her airway. And you don’t want that happening. I’ve had allergies requiring shots since I was a year old, so I _know_ this stuff. You should see an allergist and get tested for other sensitivities. And seriously, don’t eat any more avocados. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/12 "2005-07-22T06:00:17Z")
Lady Mung and I were cutting up avocados to put on ice cream this past semester. She popped a slice in her mouth and about ten minutes later she felt her lips and cheeks swelling. It was visibly noticeable. We ended up at the hospital getting her a couple of shots. Oddly enough, kiwi reactions are apparently more common in young children than adults. But she had eaten kiwi as a kid without any negative reaction (or so she claims…it’s possible but I would bet she had the tingly mouth sensation and doesn’t remember). Strange circumstance. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/13 "2005-07-22T06:07:07Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Whenever I eat them, my mouth gets a little tingly, I can taste sourness in my jaw, and my mouth salivates a lot. It goes away after a few minutes but I wonder if maybe I am mildly allergic to them? Seems that you [might be](http://www.geocities.com/nils_e_eriksson/allergy_against_kiwi.htm). From this link and others that I looked at, you are also likely to be sensitive to birch and latex, if indeed you are allergic to kiwi. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/14 "2005-07-22T12:00:02Z")
“Chinese gooseberries” dammit. I refuse to call those fuzzy little things by the name a marketing board developed. (Old fart and proud of it. Wait until you hear me on a subject that actually merits an opinion…) ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/15 "2005-07-22T15:14:26Z")
Is it possible that your reaction might be due to the same [enzyme](http://www.innvista.com/health/foods/fruits/kiwi.htm) that makes kiwi unusable in making jello? Seems like something that attacks protein might cause the symptoms you describe. IANAD etc. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/16 "2005-07-22T16:10:59Z")
> [@Mama Zappa](#): > > Is it possible that your reaction might be due to the same [enzyme](http://www.innvista.com/health/foods/fruits/kiwi.htm) that makes kiwi unusable in making jello? Seems like something that attacks protein might cause the symptoms you describe. IANAD etc. I actually had the same thought and spent about 1/2 an hour searching google for papain or bromelain allergys without much luck. Ironically enough, bromelain is a common anti-allery remedy. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/17 "2005-07-22T19:29:37Z")
From what I can see, an allergy to [Chinese Gooseberries] would indicate a cross-reaction to another allergen, birch, ragweed, latex, etc. But I don’t have any other known allergies, and I have encountered all of the above. I don’t know if there is a specific enzyme or protein that CGs have that I have a funky reaction to. Maybe I should go to an allergist to seeif there’s a connection between this and something else I should watch out for. -foxy ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/18 "2005-07-22T19:48:05Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > Lady Mung and I were cutting up avocados to put on ice cream this past semester. Ummm, is that good? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/19 "2005-07-23T02:42:07Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > “Chinese gooseberries” dammit. > > I refuse to call those fuzzy little things by the name a marketing board developed. > > (Old fart and proud of it. Wait until you hear me on a subject that actually merits an opinion…) Yeah, but that’s an _old_ marketing name. I’m quite happy to call them kiwifruit (not just “kiwi” by the way, that’s a bird\*) but refuse to call them Zespri! \*Yeah, I know. The name “kiwi” has stuck in North America, could be quite confusing though, One eats kiwifruit, one does not eat kiwis. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537/20 "2005-07-23T03:01:35Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Yeah, but that’s an _old_ marketing name. I’m quite happy to call them kiwifruit (not just “kiwi” by the way, that’s a bird\*) but refuse to call them Zespri! > > \*Yeah, I know. The name “kiwi” has stuck in North America, could be quite confusing though, One eats kiwifruit, one does not eat kiwis. I dunno. Maybe braised, like a woodcock. They look plump and yummy… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allergic-to-kiwi/313537.md?page=2)