Cochineal allergy in an 8-year-old boy
What it found
An 8-year-old boy with existing allergies had a severe reaction after eating a frankfurter containing cochineal dye.
Skin and lab tests supported a cochineal allergy.
What they found
Studies in people
Reaction to frankfurter
After eating a frankfurter containing hypoallergenic cochineal for the first time, the boy had cold sweat, discomfort inside his mouth, breathing difficulty and hives all over his body.
Skin prick tests
Skin prick tests were positive at 2+ for the frankfurter and for cochineal dyes at colour values 0.1 and 0.01.
Lab antibody test
In an immunoblot assay, IgE antibody binding was seen with CC38K, the main component of cochineal, and with a protein of about 80-200 kDa in the high molecular weight region.
Who gets it
Cochineal allergy has mostly been reported in adult women, but this case was in a school-age boy.
What the authors conclude
“We report a case of anaphylaxis with hypoallergenic cochineal onset in a school-age boy.”
Also in their conclusions
- They report a case of anaphylaxis from hypoallergenic cochineal in a school-age boy.
How it was done
Cochineal dyes are used in foods to give a red colour, and although they have been reported to cause immediate allergy, most reported cases are in adult women.
They reported the case of an 8-year-old boy with atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma and food allergies since childhood. He had two unexplained anaphylaxis reactions at age seven, and at age eight reacted after eating a frankfurter containing hypoallergenic cochineal.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- A single case report cannot show how common cochineal allergy is or who is most at risk.
- It cannot prove that cochineal was the only cause of the reaction, though the tests pointed to it.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- General Research and Development Institute, Ltd
The paper
- Title
- [THE CASE REPORT OF A 8 YEARS OLD BOY WITH COCHINEAL ALLERGY]
- Type
- Case report
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Hirase S, Takeo N, Nakamura M, et al (2020). [THE CASE REPORT OF A 8 YEARS OLD BOY WITH COCHINEAL ALLERGY]. Arerugi = [Allergy]. doi:10.15036/arerugi.69.48PubMed 32051369DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error