Sounds exotic, but it is possible: yes, you can have an allergic reaction to dates - even if it is very rare. In this article, we look at the possible symptoms and explain the role that cross-allergies and intolerances can play.
Possible symptoms
- Tingling or itching in the mouth
- Swelling of the lips or tongue
- Skin rash or hives
- Gastrointestinal complaints
- Only in severe cases: Difficulty breathing or allergic shock
Drastic reactions are the absolute exception. But it is good to know which signs are generally possible so that you can react appropriately. Always seek medical help if you suspect an emergency!
Frequency
Dates are not one of the usual suspected triggers of food allergies. A primary date allergy - i.e. an allergy in which the immune system reacts specifically to proteins contained in dates - is a rarity. Nuts, peanuts, milk, soy, eggs or stone fruit, for example, trigger allergies more frequently.
Cross-allergies as a trigger for reactions to dates?
Often a supposed date allergy can actually be part of a cross-reaction. This refers to allergic reactions that are not caused by the date in isolation, but because your immune system is already sensitized to something similar.
Imagine that your immune system is already dealing with an "allergy building site" - for example hay fever or a latex allergy. Then it can happen that similar proteins in other sources also trigger allergic reactions as an unwanted side effect.
In the case of a date allergy, there are two known causes of cross-allergy in connection with the allergen profilin. Profilin is an allergen that can lead to cross-allergies between pollen, latex and plant foods in some people:
Pollen-associated cross-allergy
A classic example of cross-reactions is birch pollen allergy: raw apples, hazelnuts or carrots can trigger itching in the mouth. Mugwort pollen allergy sufferers are also familiar with similar problems - such as celery-mugwort-spice syndrome. And dates? They can cause symptoms in birch or mugwort pollen allergy sufferers - due to proteins similar to profilin. Such pollen-associated reactions to dates appear to be quite rare - many pollen allergy sufferers are more likely to react to allergens in pome fruit, stone fruit or nuts.
Latex fruit syndrome
People who have a latex allergy can often also react to fruits such as banana, avocado, papaya, chestnut or kiwi - and sometimes also to dates. It is estimated that up to 30-40% of latex allergy sufferers can develop cross-reactions to one or more of these fruits.
Important note: A cross-allergy may or may not occur - listen to your body and discuss your experiences with your allergist.
Do dates cause you discomfort? Intolerance rather than allergy as the cause:
An allergy is not always the cause of discomfort after eating dates. If you have itching, gastrointestinal complaints or headaches, but an allergy test at the doctor's is negative, then it could be an intolerance. These reactions can also be very unpleasant. However, they are not caused by the immune system and are therefore not a genuine allergy. Nevertheless, you should have any symptoms clarified by a doctor.
Possible triggers:
Histamine
Dried dates can be problematic for people with histamine intolerance, as histamine can be formed in the dates during drying and storage. Fresh dates generally contain very little histamine and are usually well tolerated by people with histamine intolerance. Possible reactions can be very individual - from headaches, reddening of the skin, gastrointestinal complaints or palpitations.
Fruit sugar (fructose)
Dates contain natural sugars - especially fructose. Anyone suffering from fructose malabsorption has difficulty digesting dates. The result: flatulence, abdominal pain or diarrhea. This is not an allergy, but a problem with sugar absorption in the intestine. You can find out more about types of sugar and how fructose intolerance and fructose intolerance differ in our article on dates and fructose.
Salicylates
Dates can contain a medium to high amount of salicylates and can cause symptoms if you have a salicylate intolerance. Anyone who is sensitive to salicylates should therefore only eat dates in small quantities or avoid them altogether.
Sulphur / sulphites
When buying dates, you may have already come across the topic of sulphur? Dates differ significantly from other dried fruits in this respect: While sulphur is often used with apricots, for example, to maintain the light color during the drying process, this is not usually necessary with dates. People with a sensitivity to sulphites can therefore usually eat dates without any problems. You can find more information about sulphurized vs. unsulphurized dates here.
What should you do if you suspect an allergy to dates?
It is very important to us that you can enjoy your dates with as few worries as possible. However, if you experience physical symptoms after eating dates, take your symptoms seriously. Please speak to a doctor or nutritionist if you are unsure - this way you can find out exactly what is behind your symptoms and what treatment options you have.
