Could You Have a Banana Allergy or Intolerance?

In the UK we are bananas about bananas. On average, we munch our way through 5 billion every year.

One of the most versatile fruits available, bananas reach us supplied in their own natural packaging and high in natural slow-release sugars, making them an energy and nutrient-rich snack staple. They contain essential nutrients like potassium, which is important for strengthening the bones and maintaining healthy blood pressure. As well as this, the high fibre and antacid containing properties of the fruit make them a great choice for those wanting to ensure a healthy gut.

However, for some, the health benefits of banana may be outweighed by the seemingly unavoidable discomfort the fruit can cause. For those who are allergic or intolerant to the banana, the fruit can cause unpleasant reactions. As the symptoms of banana allergy and intolerance can display themselves in a variety of ways from person to person, we’ve put together a guide to help explain the difference between the two.

Unlike a banana allergy, sufferers of banana intolerance need to eat the fruit before symptoms can occur. Like many food intolerances, these symptoms do not always have an immediate onset, and can occur up to a few days after eating the fruit. This means it can sometimes be difficult for sufferers to identify banana intolerance, as the symptoms may be mistakenly attributed to other factors.

Food intolerances can occur when the body incorrectly identifies the proteins in a food, in this case bananas, as foreign. This can happen when small particles of food escape through the gut wall into the bloodstream. The body sees these particles as a potential threat and sends out antibodies to fight them. These IgG antibodies trigger an inflammatory response which can cause the unwanted conditions that affect areas of the body such as the skin or digestive system.