Tomato Allergy
Some people cannot eat foods such as pizza or spaghetti because they have a tomato allergy. Although it is not one of the most common allergies--in fact, it’s quite rare--like all other allergies it can cause illness and the possibility of anaphylactic shock and death.
More people have a food intolerance for tomatoes than have an actual tomato allergy. An intolerance usually makes itself known by unpleasant gastro-intestinal problems, such as diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, etc. A tomato allergy is a reaction by the body’s immune system to a tomato protein--it sees the tomato as a toxin that needs to be eliminated and releases histamines to kill it. The effects of the histamines are swelling, hives, rashes, headaches, and other symptoms including the constriction of the bronchial tubes which can cause respiratory distress, failure, and even death. This is known as anaphylactic shock and needs immediate medical treatment either in a hospital emergency room or by self-injection of the prescription medication, epinephrine. A tomato allergy can come on in as short a period of time as fifteen minutes and with the correct medication can end just as quickly.
The protein in the tomato is present in the skin, seeds and juice. Some people who have a tomato allergy to raw tomatoes are able to eat canned and processed tomatoes such as in catsup. The tomato plant is in what is known as the Deadly Nightshade Family, also the same family as potatoes, eggplant, chili peppers, and tobacco. All of the members of this family are also know to contribute to joint pain and arthritis.
The diagnosis of a tomato allergy can be made by a skin test, where the skin is pricked and tomato protein is applied. A hive forming on the skin at the site would indicate an allergy. A blood test taken immediately following an allergic reaction would contain immune system antibodies, which also would indicate the presence of a tomato allergy.
The only way to treat a tomato allergy is to avoid all foods containing tomatoes. Other than a fresh, raw tomato, these include pasta sauce, pizza sauce, whole canned tomatoes, soup, juice, salsa, and catsup, among others. If you have a tomato allergy you are also more apt to have an allergy to other plants in the family such as potatoes. That would mean among other things a diet without mashed or baked potatoes or French fries.
Tomato products, unlike corn or gluten, are easily recognizable by learning to read labels. A diet where tomatoes are off-limits is not anywhere as near as hard to manage as many others. No pizza should be easier to deal with than no grain products, processed foods, or desserts.