A growing number of people are developing a unusual food allergy that prevents them from eating red meat, and it’s all because of tick bites.
The condition, known as alpha-gal syndrome, occurs when individuals become allergic to a sugar molecule called alpha-gal that exists in mammalian meat. According to Eden Stewart, who works as a Field Specialist in Nutrition and Health education at the University of Missouri, the syndrome develops after being bitten by a Lone Star tick.
Medical experts are reporting an increase in diagnosed cases of this meat allergy across the country. The University of Missouri Extension recently published information to help people better understand this emerging health concern.
The syndrome can cause serious allergic reactions when affected individuals consume beef, pork, lamb, and other mammalian products, making it a significant dietary and health challenge for those diagnosed.
