Olive fruit allergy linked to olive pollen sensitivity in one woman
What it found
A 48-year-old woman with an olive pollen allergy developed itching and hives after eating olive fruit.
She did not react to olive oil.
What they found
Studies in people
Symptoms after eating olives
The woman experienced itching on the roof of her mouth and widespread hives after eating olive fruit. She had no history of other food allergies or hives.
Allergy test results
Skin prick tests and blood tests showed she was sensitive to olive pollen. A feeding test confirmed a reaction to whole olives but not to olive oil.
Only olives caused symptoms
Even though her allergy started with olive pollen, she did not have allergic reactions to any fruits other than olives.
What the authors conclude
- They note that although this syndrome is rare, doctors should consider it as a possible diagnosis.
- They say this is especially important in their country.
How it was done
Allergic reactions that link pollen to certain foods are rare and hard to diagnose. The authors wanted to describe only the fourth known case of this kind involving olives.
Doctors examined a 48-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with an olive pollen allergy five years earlier. They used skin prick tests, blood tests for specific antibodies, and feeding tests with olives and olive oil.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This report describes just one person.
- It cannot show how often olive fruit causes reactions in people with olive pollen allergies.
The paper
- Title
- The Pollen-Food Olive-Olive Syndrome
- Type
- Case report
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Racil H, Loukil M, Ferah Y, et al (2015). The Pollen-Food Olive-Olive Syndrome. La Tunisie medicale.PubMed 26578052
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error