Share of Cost, First report of allergic reaction to antibiotic pesticides consumed in food
Streptomycin, an antibiotic that is also used as a pesticide in North America, has been implicated for the first time in a case of anaphylactic reaction. An article published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology finds that it is possible for people to have allergic reactions to antibiotic residues in food.
The use of antibiotics in agriculture is banned in some European countries, but it is still allowed in the US and Canada.
In the piece, the authors study the case of a 10-year-old girl who had an anaphylactic reaction from eating blueberry pie. Although the girl was known to be allergic to penicillin and cow’s milk – and also had asthma and seasonal allergies – she was not known to be allergic to any ingredients in the pie.