On behalf of the entire state of Texas: I apologize. Apparently, the bite of a critter called the Lone Star tick can trigger an immune reaction in people who used to be able to consume dairy and red meat with no previous problems.
The irony is that a place known for beef and barbecue is causing “a tide of involuntary vegetarianism is rolling up the Eastern seaboard.” In essence, according to the article, a sugar found in red meat and dairy can normally be consumed without problem – it is presumably destroyed by the digestion process. However, ticks also contain the substance, and when they bite a person it becomes injected into the bloodstream, triggering the formation of antibodies and causing “hives, breathing problems, a drop in blood pressure or even anaphylactic shock” the next time they are eaten.
My favorite line from the story:
(Tell me you don’t feel a little itchy right now. 
)