Beef allergy in children

Beef allergy was poorly known before the '90s. Since then, a number of pape rs appeared elucidating the nature, epidemiology, and symptoms of beef alle rgy in children allergic to cow's milk and children suffering from atopic d ermatitis. It is now clear that beef allergy is not an infrequent occurrenc e, with an incidence between 3.28% and 6.52% among children with atopic der matitis, its incidence may be as much as 0.3% in the general population. A diagnosis of beef allergy must be supported by skin prick tests, RASTs, and challenges. The specificity and sensitivity according to type of test and the type of extract, however, remains to be evaluated. Despite the fact tha t other allergens can be sensitizing, the major beef allergen is bovine ser um albumin (BSA). Beef-sensitive children are also sensitized to ovine seru m albumin, as well as to other serum albumins; therefore, the use of altern ative meats in beef-allergic children must be carefully evaluated on an ind ividual basis. Because industrial heat processing is more efficient than do mestic cooking in reducing reactivity in beef-sensitive children, freeze-dr ying and homogenization may support the introduction of processed beef into the diet of beef-allergic children. Nutrition 2000;16:454-457. (C)Elsevier Science Inc.