Are You A Careful Kisser? How to Smooch Safely With Food Allergies This Valentine’s Day

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 11, 2008 – For most parents of teens, Valentine’s Day may evoke over-protective thoughts regarding their child. “I’ve got two daughters and I think they should never kiss anyone!” exclaimed Roger Friedman, MD, Clinical Professor of Allergy, Immunology, and Pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

All joking aside, parents of food-allergic children have even more cause to be wary of smooching. Today, 3 to 4 million children are affected by food allergies, and allergic reactions can be triggered not just by consuming food firsthand. Kissing—ranging from passionate to a peck on the cheek—can also prompt a reaction.

“You’re pretty unlikely to have anything severe happen from a kiss. But it can happen and you need to be smart,” Dr. Friedman advised.

A common form of affection on Valentine’s Day, kissing becomes a problem when a grandparent or date consumes an allergen before smooching a food-allergic child or teen.

“A peck on the cheek from a parent or relative will almost always only result in a local reaction such as a welt or hive;  it’s very unlikely to cause any severe reaction that you’d be worried about,” Dr. Friedman explained.  

Short of suggesting kissing be prohibited this Valentine’s Day, Dr. Friedman recommends teenagers, especially, play it safe. “If you’re in a committed relationship that involves passionate kissing, tell your date ‘I’m allergic to nuts, please don’t eat any before you kiss my face!’” he suggested.

Todd D. Green, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, agreed.

“If a date cares enough about their Valentine to kiss her or him, hopefully they’ll care enough to refrain from eating the food their Valentine is allergic to that day,” he said.

Kissing (and even sharing utensils, straws and cups) causes exposure to food allergens through saliva, which can contain enough allergen to cause local and systemic allergic reactions. In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, participants ingested two tablespoons of peanut butter to establish how long the peanut allergen stays in saliva. Researchers collected the saliva of the participants at different times, and also evaluated mouth-cleansing techniques (brushing teeth, rinsing and chewing gum).

According to the study, “the most effective way to avoid causing an allergic reaction, if you’re going to eat the food to which your partner is allergic, is to eat the food several hours before a kiss and have a meal free of the allergen before you kiss—although not eating the food at all would always be the safest approach,” said Dr. Green.

Though the risk of having a severe allergic reaction from a kiss is small, there is always a slight possibility, said Dr. Green. “Unfortunately you can’t predict the amount of protein that will be transferred during kissing, and it is difficult to predict the reaction,” he said. That said, it is better to err on the safe side.

Online support group Kids With Food Allergies offers these tips for safe smooching on Valentine’s Day:

•   Remind your kissing partner about your allergies;
•   Suggest your partner avoid eating serious allergens, if possible;
•   Ask your partner to minimize allergen exposure, such as by washing hands and face, or brushing teeth thoroughly, before kissing;
•   Carry appropriate medication and know how to use an injectable epinephrine kit;
•   Wear emergency medical identification (such as a MedicAlert bracelet).

For more tips on staying safe this Valentine’s Day, visit www.kidswithfoodallergies.org.

Dr. Friedman reminds parents that a kiss on Valentine’s Day is unlikely to be ‘the kiss of death.’

“Worry about the right things,” he advised. “Overall, the risks of developing a severe reaction from a kiss are rare and unusual.”

Founded in 2005 as a nonprofit charity, Kids With Food Allergies, Inc. is the largest online support organization for parents and families raising food-allergic kids, with 10,000 members nationwide. The online community has a range of offerings, including online discussion forums or "support groups" offering peer information sharing, social and emotional support, and cooking help; allergy-friendly recipes; food allergy news, articles and research updates; allergen-free shopping, and more. Kids With Food Allergies' roots trace back nearly seven years to a handful of dedicated parents sharing experiences online about raising children with food allergies. The recent, unprecedented rise in food allergies has spurred the group's rapid growth. For more information, visit www.kidswithfoodallergies.org.