Food Allergy Counseling: Drinking Alcohol, Food Allergies

Family lore says that my grandmother’s rule about eating fish: don't drink alcohol with it because your mouth will itch.

My theory: my grandmother was allergic to fish. The alcohol was probably a cofactor for her. Makes sense as her daughter, my mother, is allergic to crab and I’m allergic to salmon. 

Dr. Scott Sicherer of Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital addressed this exact issue recently in Allergic Living magazine: Does Alcohol Make Food Reactions Worse? 

"Co-factor enhanced food allergy” is a term used to describe a situation where a food- allergic reaction is worse or only occurs if there is an additional factor present. The three most common co-factors are: exercise, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs, including aspirin and ibuprofen), and alcohol."

Read more here: Allergic Living magazine: Does Alcohol Make Food Reactions Worse? 

Something to address with your board certified medical health provider, for sure.