Gold kiwi fruit - a new food allergen

Abstract

Rationale The allergic potential of all novel foods needs to be assessed, but to date there have been no studies investigating the allergic potential of gold kiwi in subjects allergic to green kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa). It has been suggested the gold kiwi fruit (Actinidia chiensis) is less allergenic than green kiwi fruit because it contains extremely low levels (=10 fold less) of actinidin, the major allergen in kiwi fruit. Methods Five subjects with allergy to green kiwi fruit confirmed by DBPCFC were investigated by skin test and DBPCFC with gold kiwi fruit. Results Four of the five subjects had a positive DBPCFC to gold kiwi. One subject with systemic symptoms to green kiwi fruit had a moderately severe reaction to the gold fruit. Two subjects with OAS to green kiwi fruit had similar symptoms with gold kiwi, but noted that the itching was less intense than that experienced during DBPCFC with green kiwi fruit. A subject who reacts systemically to green kiwi had oral pruritus with gold kiwi fruit. Conclusions Gold kiwi fruit is allergenic despite extremely low levels of the major allergen in green kiwi, actinidin. Subjects allergic to green kiwi are at risk of reacting to the gold kiwi fruit.