Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1995 Jul; 125(30): 1434-7.

[Poppyseed anaphylaxis]

Gloor M, Kägi M, Wüthrich B.

Allergiestation der Dermatologischen Klinik, Universitätsspital Zürich.

We describe 3 patients with a severe allergic immediate-type reaction to poppy-seeds, diagnosed from clinical findings, skin tests and specific IgE antibodies (CAP). All show a serologic positivity to sesame seed, possibly due to a cross reactivity to similar allergens. From 1978 until 1987 402 food allergy patients seen at the Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, included no case of allergy to poppy-seeds. Because of today's trend to vegetarian food such immediate type reactions can be expected to occur more frequently.