There has been an increase in the incidence of reported kiwifruit allergy in recent years. A research team has now published the findings of their investigation into the association between baker's asthma, a frequent IgE-mediated occupational disorder mainly provoked by inhalation of cereal flour, and allergy to kiwifruit.

Results of their studies showed kiwifruit ingestion elicited oral allergy syndrome in 35% of patients with baker's asthma. The researchers therefore believe there is potential association between respiratory allergy to cereal flour and allergy to kiwifruit

Reference: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology August  2008, Vol. 101 ( 2) pp. 200 – 205.