My husband found out that he was allergic to meat when he was thirteen. He can't eat beef or pork. He also can't eat anything dairy. He is really missing out on alot of great foods.
His reaction to eating these foods are: throat swelling,hives and severe stomach cramps.
If anyone can relate or shed some light here,I would appreciate it very much.

I have been exposed to MANY people with different types of allergies, through years of being part of allergy research, allergy groups, and public speaking at anaphalactic seminars. I have NEVER heard of ANYONE being allergic to both pork and beef. They are so far apart on the food scale (pigs are closer related to elephants than to cows). The proteins in these two animals are completely different.
I would think that because there is no commonality to these 2 animals that the allergy is not to the meat, but instead to something that is IN it. Since he shows the same signs with dairy products, it can also mean the same thing. I myself CAN'T eat very much 'inorganic' meat. Beef and Pork are LACED with growth hormones and penicillan.
They are given to the animals in 'innoculated silage' (feed) in order to keep them from catching cold, and losing weight. The growth hormoes actually cause them to increase in size by 20%...fat and water!
I would suggest that you try a totally different approach. Understand that there is a chance that my assuption is wrong...so be careful when testing! Buy some certifed ORGANIC meat , cook it slowly on a BBQ, add NOTHING to it, and allow him to sample a small pc. If after 10 minutes nothing happens, have him try a larger pc. Wait another 10 minutes and let him have a third piece. After 1 hour if he has no symptoms, allow him to finish it, slowly. Additives may be the root cause....I am allergic to penicillan and amphenols and buy only organic and naturally grown meat from a farmer I know. I can eat small amounts of inorganic meat....but have to be carefull for symptoms. I carry Benedril with me at all times, just in case.

Good luck. Allergies are trying....finding out the cause is rewarding though!
B

Thanks for the info Babernethy. My husband has tried to eat pork from a friend that raised the hog himself. He nearly died from eating it. So, we narrowed it down to the ingredients in the feed.
The guy that raised the hog, also gave the hog feed from time to time, but it ate table scraps most of the time.
He is basically eating poultry and seafood.
Would acupuncture be the route to go?

[This message has been edited by Trina (edited 03-23-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Trina (edited 03-23-2001).]

Oh! I forgot one thing. Where can I buy organic meat?

Trina:
Regarding your husbands friend raising the pig that your husband tried. You mentioned the feed...which was probably not organic, and did most likely have 'silage inoculant' penicillan or another anti-biotic in it. Only animals raised with 'natural not inoculated feed' are called organic. You should check out a health food store in your area, for this 'test'. Remember, tiny amounts ONLY. If he is able to eat organic, you will have to find an organic grower. Look on the internet under 'organic growers association'...I'm sure you'll find a contact.
My symptoms if I eat meat not raised without inolulants: First tingling in my feet and hands, blushing on the face, shortness of breath, heart palpitations. If I get to this point I MUST cause myself to vomit or I will go into penicillan shock...like anaphalactic shock. Nasty business.
I buy all my meat from a natural growth farmer I know personally...chickens, beef and pork. All are raised organically. The chicks are inoculated at hatch...that is law. No other medications are given to the animals. If the animal needs to be medicated due to illness, that animal must wait 'till the next years slaughter. The meat, by the way, is far leaner than store bought, has a far better taste, no marbling of fat, cooks at a lower temperature and except for the chickens, costs far less than 'regular' store bought. Because there is a chicken marketing board, the price for organic poultry is higher than store bought. Beef and pork is the 'highest medicated' meat on the market...you'd be surprised what goes into the animal...let me tell you!
I can't say anything about accupuncture...I've never done it. I'm a natural food and environmental specialist...because I have chosen to devote a lot of time to the cause.
Good luck with your hubby. I do hope he is able to enjoy the finer things in life again...soon! By the way, has he ever been tested for anti-biotic allergies?
B

Babernethy,
You asked has he ever been tested for anti-biotic allergies? My Guess would be no.
He has taking anti-biotic medicine before, but it never bothered him.

Trina

I wonder if maybe it is the type of antibiotic that is put in the food as opposed to the type he has taken. As I mentioned before, it could very easily be the growth hormones...it is a very hard call. The organic test is the only sure fire way to find out.
Make sure you have something on hand, Benedril or an epi-pen, just in case he is simply allergic to animal protein...which is very unlikely....anything is possible though!
Good luck
B

This topic jumped out at me for many reasons. My son is allergic to beef no matter how it is grown. He simply cannot eat it. I am allergic to horses and that means every bit of the horse. The hair, the manure, just simply the horse. My sons doctor says that our two allergies are linked. Me horses and him beef. Go figure huh. I would like to know if you are going to try this organic test and my suggestion would be to if you must try it try it in the presence of a physician who can handle anaphylactic shock.

Good luck.

Winteraires,
I am looking for a place to buy organic beef for my husbsnd. He has medication in case he has a reaction to the beef.
I'll keep you all up-dated at let you know what happens.
I want to know more about your child being allergic to beef. I'm trying to learn as much as possible. I'm wishing that one day that there will be something out there for my husband. He misses beef like crazy.

Trina

Trina,

My son has been allergic to beef since he was a little little guy. At first he just develpoed a rather large and very red rash around his mouth and very very bad stomach cramps. I had no clue he was allergic to the beef. I just assumed it was some type of seasoing he was allergic to. Finally someone suggested to me that he try organic beef. I went to an organic beef farm and got him some beef and made an appointment with his allergist (he has other allergies) to try the beef out so he could see the reactin first hand if there was any. My son ate the organic beef and several minutes later was unable to breathe, clawing at his chest and in anaphylaxis. Thank goodness we were there with the doctor because it ended up that my son had three reactions to this beef that he ate and if I had tried it at home I would not have had enough epinehrine for him. Now of course since hes always been allergic to beef he doesnt miss it. He still eats taco's and meat loaf and those types of things but he eats them with ground turkey. Good luck in your testing and just make sure you have enough epi-pens.

I checked with a beef/dairy farmer I know...he said which I did not mention, there are a variety of DIFFERENT types of beef also...the proteins are different in each. He mentioned Charolais, Black Angus, Scottish Highland, Hereford and about 5 others.
As the last lady wrote, your husband seems not to be the only one. I really NEVER heard of anyone with such an extreme beef allergy...it is truly amazing just how many things one can be allergic to!

Of note...I had a reaction to chicken 2 years ago...never had it before. Bought the chicken from a new organic supplier...turns out the feed is 50% corn...and I'm allergic to corn.

Brad 183 specific allergies (I don't miss onions though)!

[This message has been edited by Babernethy (edited 03-30-2001).]

How about elk or deer meat?
Since the mad cow disease is prevalent,
alternatives to beef are ostrich, and
portabello mushrooms.

I too have the same issues with Pork and Beef. I think my root cause is the medication they give the animals when raising them. I live in Nebraska and have seen first hand how these things are raised - and what they do to get them FAT for sale day.

I am allergic to Penicillian too - so I figure it's that as much as anything. I do not swell like some do - my body acts like it's been posioned and tries to purge it out of my body.

But, here is the fun part! I can eat meat at Taco Bell... Wonder why?

R

I have recently had a munber of food allergy tests and the doctors found that I am allergic to beef, pork, kidney beans, corn, avacado, bananas, passion fruit, mangoes and almonds. The tests were based on an IGE reaction and showed that I am severly allergic to almonds and tested positive for all the others. I have not eaten any of these products for two weeks now but am still having an allergic reaction to something. I am always covered in hives. I also suffer with delayed pressure urticaria.

I would advise that you stay away from the beef and pork completely. it may be that the animal is fed something that causes the reaction, but at then end of the day, the reaction is being caused, so aviod it.

Good luck,
Andromeda

my ds (10 year old) had a skin test done today to determine his allergies. he is allergic to chicken and turkey! how bizarre! i never heard of this until recently! so glad i found this site!!!!!

Allergies to food are hard to treat. It is important if you have one that you get tested to find all that you are allergic too. Eating those you are mildly allergic too all at once can be just as bad as consuming one you are severely allergic to.. there is hope. I ended up have to have the skin patch tests as well because I was having bad allergic flare ups to things I wasn't supposed to be allergic too. Turns out I am allergic to many perservatives and various longevity chemicals added to everything from precooked and packaged meats to cakes.


I still have many.. many allergies, but none greater than a three (except for Cobalt, Nickle, and Iodine). But this is an improvements from my 80 some allergies at 4 or greater ten years ago. Two years of allergies shots helped me immensley. My husband as well. I am praying that my son turns out allergy free, but since he is on zyrtec since (6 months), nasonex, and singular (since 2) well it is looking like we passed on the bad allergies genes. It is important to get allergy testing done so you can get your epi-pen if necessary as well as know what to avoid at all costs.

Best of luck to you all.
Sincerely,
MG

Just a curious question...
I too am allergic to beef. I found this out while getting the needles down your back test at my allergists office. I thankfully don't have a severe reaction, more like I get all stuffed up, my throat will sometimes itch, etc.

But those needles down your back tests... don't they test you with say "pure" beef whatever you call it? So, regardless of if the beef you eat is organic or not, wouldn't you still be allergic to it??? It's all still beef? I can see what they are feeding the cow adding to the beef allergy, but beef is beef?