CHRONIC URTICARIA, OCCUPATIONAL ALLERGIC RHINOCONJUNCTIVITIS AND BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA DUE TO TYPE-I HYPERSENSITIVITY TO ST-JOHNS-BREAD SEED (CAROB BEAN GUM, E 410)

We report two patients with hypersensitivity to the galactomannan St. John's bread seed (carob bean gum, E 410). A nutrition technologist pr esented with a hypersensitivity (scratch test and specific IgE) to St. John's bread seed which was responsible for his occupational rhinocon junctivitis and most probably for his chronic urticaria. An ice cream and cooky baker suffered from occupational bronchial asthma, rhinoconj unctivitis and urticaria. He had a positive RAST for St. John's bread seed and positive scratch tests for St. John's bread seed, tragacanth, peas and peanuts. St. John's bread seed and tragacanth were found in the food thickener which he uses for ice cream preparation. Both patie nts have probably acquired their hypersensitivity by an aerogeneous wa y.