HYPERSENSITIVITY TO OLIVE - RARE OR CLUE FOR A UNIQUE ALLERGEN

The case of an alimentary allergy to olive fruit (Olea europea) and ol ive oil is reported. Although sensitization may have occurred through inhalation by another allergen such as pollen, the association between sensitization to olive or ash pollen, which are both cross-reactive, and the olive fruit allergy seems very unlikely. Since respiratory all ergy due to olive pollen is very common in the Mediterranean area, thi s kind of food allergy would have been recognized more often. Thus, we postulate an olive fruit or olive seed specific allergen causing the alimentary allergy.