General Question

upholstry's avatar

Do bananas irritate the inside of your mouth and lips?

Asked by upholstry (683points) April 14th, 2009

I enjoy bananas, but something inside of them irritates the inside of my mouth, lips and tongue, sometimes even causing cold sores. What’s the deal? I’ve never heard of a banana allergy and this only started a few years ago.

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12 Answers

chicadelplaya's avatar

Sounds like an allergic reaction to me. Bummer.

bezdomnaya's avatar

Actually, two of my friends are allergic to bananas. One of them described it as a tingly feeling and kind of numbing. Is that similar to what you have?

RedPowerLady's avatar

Ya that is an allergy. It might be the banana itself. It could also be the chemicals used on the bananas. Not all allergies are so bad you would know that is what it is. But beware because allergies can progress. I would avoid them if I were you for fear of serious consequences at a later time if you persist in eating them.

upholstry's avatar

@bezdomnaya yes! I’ve never heard anyone else having the same experience.

@RedPowerLady I have already quit cigarettes and lactose. I’ll be damned if I will also give up bananas.

YARNLADY's avatar

Oh, how sad. I have no allergy to bananas. Let me use this occasion to tell you a funny banana story. Hubby was on a plane to Paris, and he bit into the skin of a banana to facilitate opening it. The skin was so tough, it broke his tooth, and he had to immediately seek a dentist in a foreign country.

Dog's avatar

Searched and found this:

To be allergic to banana you body’s immune system must be overacting to the banana protein chitinase. Another cause of the allergy reaction could be due to intolerance to bananas and not a true allergy reaction. This intolerance could be caused by Vaso-active amines.

Vaso-active amines are histamine like substances that occur naturally in foods and can trigger symptoms that can mimic allergy reactions. Vaso-active amines are called histamine, phenyl-ethylamine, serotonin, tyramine and dopamine.

Here is the source

Taking from this you may wish to further research Chitinase

And also Vaso-active amines

discover's avatar

Banana allergy is known as Oral allergy syndrome in which the mouth, tongue, lips are affected.

Are you allergic to the following?:
Ragweed pollen, latex,
Melons(cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon) Tomatoes

People with banana allergy can also be allergic to the above foods…

phoenyx's avatar

I am allergic to melons and bananas. Several people in my family are also.

casheroo's avatar

I don’t have an allergy or sensitivity to bananas, but I’d definitely stop eating them if they affect you in that way.

gailcalled's avatar

When my paternal grandfather got off the boat in 1888 after a long trip from Lithuania, he was 18. His cousin met him in NYC and gave him his first banana. My grandfather ate it, skin and all, or so goes the family legend.

SeventhSense's avatar

I just love your questions. They make me smile. :)

AmandaHugankiss's avatar

I don’t have a banana allergy but it must be so bad to have one. I wasn’t busy so I was thinking what it would be like to have an allergy to my favourite fruit and stumbled accross this string… my heart goes out to you all.

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