[taeric]

I would similarly be unsurprised if there is just some other factor. I saw an article onetime that showed a link between alergies to apples and the range of an unrelated tree. That is, there was some other type of tree that, if present, increased the occurrence of reported allergies to the apple. Whereas the same apple in a location without this tree had fewer allergies reported.

Sadly... my inability to refind this article makes me suspect that, though I may be unsurprised by this idea, I have no evidence for it. So, if anyone can help refute the idea, that would be great! :)

[asplake]

You may be thinking birch trees. I’m allergic to certain raw fruits (cooked or canned ok), beans, and tree nuts (peanuts and cashews ok). I’m told this weird combination is a thing.

I found “Oral allergy syndrome” http://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-a...

[taeric]

Thanks for the link! That at least makes it look like I didn't imagine the article. The one I remember was a more direct link between allergies to thing X, but only in the presence of thing Y. With no reported allergies to thing Y.

[jon_richards]

Holy shit. I've always been allergic to random things like cherries, apples, tomatoes, melon, peaches, etc., but only some of the time and never when it's cooked. It could definitely be some other tree or something that's doing it.

Edit: Just read the other reply. I'm definitely allergic to birch and grass pollen and I've always had hay fever. That solves that mystery.

[taeric]

Definitely seek out more information on this. I'm still halfway convinced I imagined the article I am referring to. :(

[kaybe]

That is a new idea, thanks! I was suspecting pesticides or similar, since my allergy is highly batch-dependant and there have been less and less occurrences over time.

[taeric]

I stress that I may have made up the article I'm referencing!

I ultimately take "allergy" to mean, "we don't fully understand the reason."

[kaybe]

Regardless, it's an interesting theory that I hadn't considered before. It's harder to imagine how that would work, but not inconceivable.