Order a pork allergy IgE blood test to detect an allergy to pork. This test measures the amount of allergen-specific antibodies in a blood sample.
Pork is domestic pig meat. It is the most frequently eaten meat worldwide. It is mostly consumed unprocessed, but pork products that are cured or preserved are also popular and increase pork products' shelf life. Preserved products include ham, gammon, smoked pork, sausages, and bacon. Pork meat allergies may also mean that an individual has an allergy to wild boar meat.
Pork is mostly composed of protein, like all meat. It contains all nine vital amino acids necessary for the growth and maintenance of the body. One of the most comprehensive dietary sources of protein is meat. Pork, which includes thiamine, niacin, zinc, phosphorus, vitamin B12, iron, and vitamin B6, is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals. For this reason, eating pork can be especially helpful for bodybuilders, athletes recovering, post-surgery individuals, or individuals who need to build up or repair muscles. Lean pork can be an excellent addition to a healthy diet because it is high in protein and rich in many vitamins and minerals.
If an individual has a known allergy to pork, it is safer to avoid pork and pork-containing foods or products. Many items contain pork ingredients. Some of these items may include:
- Marshmallows
- Jello
- Chili sauces
- Bag gravy
- Bag Seasoning Mixes
- Potato chips
- Refrigerated Pie Shells
- Sodas
- Hostess cupcakes
- Can Refrigerated Biscuits
- Kellogg Fruit Snacks
- All products containing gelatin
- Cleansers
- Soaps
- Detergents
- Dish liquids
An allergy to pork triggers a reaction in an individual's immune system. The body views certain substances as toxic and produces IgE antibodies to these contaminants. These antibodies cause histamine to be released, which will cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Allergy symptoms vary from one individual to the next ranging from mild to severe reactions, which can be experienced within minutes to hours after exposure. Common symptoms of a pork allergy may include one or more of the following symptoms:
- Itching
- Hives
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, and throat, or other body
- Headaches
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Mild fever
- Anaphylaxis, in rare cases
If an individual develops pork allergy symptoms after eating pork and has a known allergy to cats, it may not always be a true allergy to pork but rather a cross-reactive reaction to cats. This relationship is called the pork-cat syndrome. The allergy is triggered by the similar components of pork albumin and cat albumin.
In addition, it has been found that individuals may develop pork allergies due to being bit by the Lone Star Tick. If an individual has recently started to experience the signs of a meat allergy, it should be considered if a tick has recently bitten them.
