Allergy diet - berries free

Aim

To provide a diet that excludes all common berries and food products containing berry ingredients and berry derivatives found in the Australian food chain, to avoid reactions in individuals with an allergy to one or more berries.

Characteristics

This diet avoids all sources of the following berries: acai, blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, fresh currants (black, red or white), elderberry, goji berry, gooseberry, juniper berry, lillypilly berry, lingonberry, mulberry, munthari berry, raspberry, strawberry and foods containing their derivatives or flavourings.

This diet does not exclude cherries. These are excluded in the Allergy – stone fruit free diet.

Indications

All patients who have an allergic reaction to any of the listed berries should be ordered this diet unless a medical officer or dietitian has advised otherwise.

Nutritional adequacy

This diet can be nutritionally adequate.

Precautions

If the patient has latex-fruit syndrome, the Allergy – latex free diet would be more appropriate.

It is not possible to provide a full list of all permitted commercial products; the following are general guidelines only. Care should be taken to read all product ingredient lists to determine if the product contains any of the listed berries or derivatives. Clarification is required for foods that contain compound ingredients to determine their components.

Some berry flavourings are not made from actual berries but may need to be avoided to support patient confidence in the food provided.

Paediatrics

Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.

Specific menu planning guidelines

	Allowed	Not allowed
Hot main dishes	All others	Those containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. curries
Sauces, gravies	All others	Those containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. cranberry sauce
Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice	All	Those containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. flavoured couscous dishes
Vegetables	All	Nil
Soups	All	Nil
Sandwiches	All others	Bread and fillings containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. cranberry sauce, jams, pickles
Salads, dressings	All others	Salads and commercial dressings containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. cranberry sauce, pickles
Breads, cereals	All others	Breads and breakfast cereals containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. dried fruit in muesli, fruit loaf
Spreads	All others	Jams and fruit spreads containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives
Hot breakfast choices	All others	Hot breakfast choices containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. sauces
Fruit	All others	Acai, blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, fresh currants (black, red or white), elderberry, goji berry, gooseberry, juniper berry, lillypilly berry, lingonberry, mulberry, munthari berry, raspberry and strawberry or derivatives
Yoghurt	All others	Yoghurt containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, including pieces, chunks, paste, flavouring, colouring, e.g. blackcurrant concentrate used as colouring in yoghurt
Desserts	All others	Cakes and desserts containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. strawberry cheesecake, blueberry muffin, cake, flavoured pastries
Milk and cheese	All others	Milk and cheese containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. strawberry flavoured milk
Beverages	All others	Beverages containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. cranberry juice, raspberry cordial, blackcurrant cordial, mixed juices
Biscuits	All others	Baked products containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives
Miscellaneous	All miscellaneous with allowed ingredients, e.g. pepper, salt, sugar and sweetener	Other miscellaneous items containing any of the excluded berries or derivatives, e.g. listed berry flavours for oral nutrition supplements

References

1. Food Allergy Research and Resource Program. Allergenic Foods and their Allergens. Lincoln: FARRP; 2020 [cited 17 June 2020].
2. Anaphylaxis Campaign. Fruit. Hampshire: Anaphylaxis Campaign; 2019 [cited 17 June 2020].
3. Maghuly F, Marzban G, Laimer M. Functional genomics of allergen gene families in fruits. Nutrients. 2009;1(2):119-132. doi:10.3390/nu1020119.
4. Gámez C, Marchán E, Miguel L, Sanz V, del Pozo V. Goji berry: a potential new player in latex-food syndrome. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013;110(3):206-207. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2012.12.012.
5. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. Latex Allergy. Sydney: ASCIA; 2019 [cited 17 June 2020].
6. European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation. Latex Allergy. Berlin: ECARF; 2016 [cited 17 June 2020].
7. Healthline. Do I have a Strawberry Allergy? San Francisco: Healthline; 2018 [cited 17 June 2020].