Food allergies are a growing concern for Americans, but a recent case of allergic response to antibiotics used in fruit production adds a new dimension to managing allergies. Many people are probably unaware that antibiotics are routinely used in fruit and vegetable production, as attention is generally directed at antibiotic overuse in the livestock industry.

The case study involves a 10 year-old girl who experienced anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction, after eating blueberry pie. She had no medical history of allergy to blueberries or any of the other pie ingredients. She was, however, known to suffer from asthma, seasonal allergies, and strong allergies to penicillin and cow’s milk.

After extensive investigation of both the girl and the pie, authors of the study concluded that the girl’s reaction was triggered by streptomycin on the blueberries. The streptomycin was sprayed onto the blueberries during production to reduce susceptibility to bacteria, fungi, and algae pests.

“As far as we know, this is the first report that links an allergic reaction to fruits treated with antibiotic pesticides,” said allergist Anne Des Roches, MD,FRCP, lead study author. “Certain European countries ban the use of antibiotics for growing foods, but the United States and Canada still allow them for agricultural purposes.”

The authors write in the study that new, tighter regulations may reduce antibiotic levels in fruits and vegetables in the U.S. Consumers should be aware that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables may still have antibiotics on their surfaces.

Earlier in the year, the World Health Organization warned of a looming “post-antibiotic” era as antibiotic resistance becomes more prevalent among pathogenic bacteria. A recent court decision fell on the side of the livestock industry when consumer advocacy groups petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to review the safety of routine antibiotic treatment of food animals.

The article will appear in the September issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the official journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.