Food-triggered anaphylaxis in adults

Adult food allergy, either unresolved from childhood, or new-onset in adult-life, is known to be increasingly prevalent. Although much of the reported anaphylaxis in adults is due to drug reactions, foods are becoming an increasingly important trigger, affecting adults of all ages, with a wide variation in food triggers which are often quite different to those reported in children.

Peanuts are well known to cause anaphylaxis in some adult populations, but other legumes such as soy may be more relevant in others. Reactions to natto, fermented soybeans, are currently mainly reported in Japan, but changing dietary practices and an increase in plant-based eating mean natto, other forms of soy and other legumes are increasingly linked to anaphylaxis in Western countries. Anaphylaxis to red meat, caused by sensitization to galactose-α-1,3-galactose and first reported in North America, is now a more world-wide concern. Co-factor induced anaphylaxis is increasingly associated with both wheat allergy and lipid transfer protein allergy.

More research is urgently needed to characterize adult food allergy, its triggers and symptom severity. Unusual food triggers and potential co-factors should be considered, so that anaphylaxis in adults can be correctly managed, not merely labelled as idiopathic.