I Kissed a Kiwi
I was cruising my local Whole Foods on Thursday night after a very yum and safe dinner at Gotham Bar & Grill [we split a steak, and they made me special sides to split, spinach and mushrooms, all delish and safe] and espied organic kiwifruits from Italy. They are on sale, three for $1, so I bought one for .33.
Back at home I did some homework on the plant species of the brown fuzzy oblong shaped fruit.
According to WikiPedia:Raw kiwifruit is also rich in the protein-dissolving enzyme actinidin, (in the same family of thiol proteases as papain), which is commercially useful as a meat tenderizer but can be an allergen for some individuals. Specifically, people allergic to latex, papayas or pineapples are likely to be allergic to kiwifruit also. Reactions include sweating, tingling and sore mouth; swelling of the lips, tongue and face; rash; vomiting and abdominal pain; and, in the most severe cases, breathing difficulties, wheezing and collapse. The most common symptoms are unpleasant itching and soreness of the mouth, with the most common severe symptom being wheezing. Severe symptoms are most likely to occur in young children.
And here is what the California Kiwifruit Commission had to say about kiwi allergies.
Since I’ve never had papayas and I know pineapple makes my lips tingle, sometimes, I gave a small pause. Small because as a child I ate kiwi all the time. So I proceeded cautiously knowing that I would probably be fine. I had a small spoonful of the green flesh and the black seeds: watery, slightly sweet, tart and green tasting.
And then I waiting about 2 hours.
And nada. No reaction of any kind. So then had a bit more. And still nothing, except yum.
So in my efforts to try some new/old things, I can cross kiwifruit off the list of potentially harmful fruits and put it back on my list of things to eat every now and then, especially when they are on sale!
Back at home I did some homework on the plant species of the brown fuzzy oblong shaped fruit.
According to WikiPedia:Raw kiwifruit is also rich in the protein-dissolving enzyme actinidin, (in the same family of thiol proteases as papain), which is commercially useful as a meat tenderizer but can be an allergen for some individuals. Specifically, people allergic to latex, papayas or pineapples are likely to be allergic to kiwifruit also. Reactions include sweating, tingling and sore mouth; swelling of the lips, tongue and face; rash; vomiting and abdominal pain; and, in the most severe cases, breathing difficulties, wheezing and collapse. The most common symptoms are unpleasant itching and soreness of the mouth, with the most common severe symptom being wheezing. Severe symptoms are most likely to occur in young children.
And here is what the California Kiwifruit Commission had to say about kiwi allergies.
Since I’ve never had papayas and I know pineapple makes my lips tingle, sometimes, I gave a small pause. Small because as a child I ate kiwi all the time. So I proceeded cautiously knowing that I would probably be fine. I had a small spoonful of the green flesh and the black seeds: watery, slightly sweet, tart and green tasting.
And then I waiting about 2 hours.
And nada. No reaction of any kind. So then had a bit more. And still nothing, except yum.
So in my efforts to try some new/old things, I can cross kiwifruit off the list of potentially harmful fruits and put it back on my list of things to eat every now and then, especially when they are on sale!
Comments
My first encounter (it was a good one) with kiwis was in a fruit torte form Pastiche in Providence, RI, many years ago. As a child, kiwis looked a bit strange to me, but I still remember that torte!
Proceed with caution.
this kiwi was fine the next could be a blamo.
gotta start somewhere though.
nice to hear from you!
I loved kiwi as a child, but eating one now paralyzes my whole body for 5 hours, so I'll never get to eat it again. (it's a neuro thing.)
Please enjoy one for me! :)
Never again.
Good job doing homework first before trying it out.