Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Can You Eat Pork?

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergic condition that causes an adverse reaction to alpha-gal, a sugar found in the tissues of mammals except humans and other primates. This allergy can develop after a person is bitten by a lone star tick, which transmits alpha-gal into the bloodstream.

Symptoms of Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Symptoms of AGS typically appear within three to six hours after consuming alpha-gal and can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:

Hives or itchy rash
Nausea or vomiting
Heartburn or indigestion
Constipation
Diarrhea
Cough
Shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing
Drop in blood pressure
Swelling of the lips, tongue, or eyelids
Dizziness or faintness
Severe stomach pain

In severe cases, AGS can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention.

Can You Eat Pork with Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

No, people with AGS cannot eat pork or any other mammalian meat, including beef, lamb, venison, or goat. Alpha-gal is present in all mammalian meat, and consuming it can trigger an allergic reaction.

Other Foods to Avoid

In addition to mammalian meat, people with AGS may also need to avoid certain other foods and products that contain alpha-gal, such as:

Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter)
Gelatin (found in marshmallows, Jell-O, and other desserts)
Medications derived from mammals (such as certain thyroid hormone supplements and anti-venom therapies)

Treatment and Management

There is no cure for AGS, but the condition can be managed by avoiding exposure to alpha-gal. This means eliminating mammalian meat and other trigger foods from the diet and taking precautions to prevent tick bites.

If an allergic reaction does occur, treatment may include:

Epinephrine (adrenaline)
Antihistamines
Oral corticosteroids

Outlook

The outlook for people with AGS varies. Some individuals may experience a decrease in their sensitivity to alpha-gal over time, allowing them to eventually tolerate small amounts of mammalian meat. However, others may remain highly allergic and need to strictly avoid all sources of alpha-gal.

Prevention

The best way to prevent AGS is to avoid tick bites. This can be done by:

Wearing long sleeves and pants when in wooded areas
Using insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin
Checking for ticks after spending time outdoors
Removing ticks promptly and properly

AGS is a serious allergic condition that can cause severe reactions to alpha-gal, a sugar found in mammalian meat. If you have been diagnosed with AGS, it is crucial to avoid all sources of alpha-gal, including pork, to prevent allergic reactions.

New meat allergy linked to tick bite: What you need to know

FAQ

What foods can you not eat with alpha-gal?

Food to avoid for alpha-gal syndrome patients They include: Pork, beef, venison, and other mammalian meat – in essence, any animal with hair; Products made from these mammals, such as lard, butter, milk, and others should be avoided; Aerosolized alpha-gal (i.e., from frying bacon or beef products);

Can I eat pepperoni with alpha-gal?

Health experts advise those with the allergy to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose to avoid consumption of all mammalian meats and products containing mammalian by-products, such as milk, cheese, gelatin, natural sausage casing, and even certain medications.

Can you eat hot dogs with alpha-gal?

Triggers include any red meat – including beef, pork, lamb or even horse products. It may occur after eating hotdogs and hamburgers. In very rare cases the reaction may extend to milk or dairy proteins and gelatin.

Can you be allergic to pork but not beef?

Pork can fall under the red meat allergy category, due to the same alpha-gal exposure. But it’s also possible that people have only a pork allergy because they have a cross-reactive response to pork, rather than a true allergy to the meat.