Beef allergy in children

Beef allergy was poorly known before the '90s. Since then, a number of papers appeared elucidating the nature, epidemiology, and symptoms of beef allergy in children allergic to cow's milk and children suffering from atopic dermatitis. It is now clear that beef allergy is not an infrequent occurrence, with an incidence between 3.28% and 6.52% among children with atopic dermatitis, its incidence may be as much as 0.3% in the general population. A diagnosis of beef allergy must be supported by skin prick tests, RASTs, and challenges. The specificity and sensitivity according to type of test and the type of extract, however, remains to be evaluated. Despite the fact that other allergens can be sensitizing, the major beef allergen is bovine serum albumin (BSA). Beef-sensitive children are also sensitized to ovine serum albumin, as well as to other serum albumins; therefore, the use of alternative meats in beef-allergic children must be carefully evaluated on an individual basis. Because industrial heat processing is more efficient than domestic cooking in reducing reactivity in beef-sensitive children, freeze-drying and homogenization may support the introduction of processed beef into the diet of beef-allergic children. Nutrition 2000;16:454-457. (C)Elsevier Science Inc.