Eating Passion Fruit Has An Unexpected (And Serious) Side Effect For Some People

Imagine you've been introduced to a delightful tropical fruit with a pulpy inside that tastes like a tart citrus-melon crossover and offers many health benefits. You dive right in, only to discover that your food from paradise isn't so heavenly for your system.

That's what happens to some people when they eat passion fruit or one of its byproducts (e.g., juice). Instead of being able to enjoy the experience, they may break out in hives, begin to wheeze, get itchy, or even feel like they can't breathe. In other words, they have allergic reactions to the fruit they've just consumed.

What causes passion fruit allergies? You can blame specific proteins known as class I chitinases, which are present in passion fruit. These proteins trigger some people's bodies to overreact and release chemical substances, causing a string of side effects which can be mild, as in the case of tingling lips, or severe, as happens during respiratory distress.

One way to tell if you're likely to have an allergy to passion fruit, even if you've never tried one before: you have a higher risk if you also happen to have a latex allergy. Since latex is made from rubber plants, anyone who has an allergy to the proteins in rubber plants is more likely to be allergic to latex. This is where the connection to passion fruit comes into the mix. Some of the proteins in rubber plants and passion fruit share similarities. 

As a result, your body may interpret them in the same way, meaning that if you have an existing allergy to rubber (or latex), you may end up dealing with an allergic reaction. Notably, up to half the people who are allergic to latex develop cross-allergic reactions to food, according to the Allergy and Asthma Network.

With that said, passion fruit isn't the only food that can produce a latex-related allergic reaction.

Banana, avocado, and kiwi have all been known to have relationships with latex allergies as well. Consequently, if you experience allergies with any of those foods, you might want to avoid passion fruit.

Another way to tell if you have a passion fruit allergy is through testing. An allergist can order blood work and skin prick tests to determine if you're responding negatively to passion fruit because of a true allergy rather than a food intolerance. (Read about the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance.)

When you have an intolerance or sensitivity to a food, you will undergo a gastrointestinal reaction, like nausea, vomiting, bloating, or gas, when you eat the food. However, you won't have an allergic symptom like itchy or watery eyes, because your entire body isn't being bombarded by histamines (compounds that cause allergic reactions); instead, the food's effects on you manifest solely through your digestive system, and are less severe.