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Thaumatin and gum arabic allergy in chewing gum factory workers
Author(s) -
Tschannen Mattias P.,
Glück Ulrich,
Bircher Andreas J.,
Heijnen Ingmar,
Pletscher Claudia
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22729
Subject(s) - medicine , thaumatin , gum arabic , allergy , arabic , factory (object oriented programming) , chewing gum , dermatology , food science , immunology , chemistry , computer science , programming language , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , gene
Thaumatin is a sweetener and flavor modifier commonly used in the food industry. Likewise, gum arabic is widely used as a food stabilizer and thickening agent. We report here that a powder mixture composed of 10% thaumatin and 90% gum arabic led to allergic symptoms in the upper airways in occupationally exposed individuals: four of eight workers of a chewing gum factory exposed to this powder mixture had pronounced rhinitis. A positive skin prick test result for pure thaumatin was obtained in all four individuals with rhinitis of whom two also had a positive skin prick test result for pure gum arabic and gum arabic‐specific IgE. Subsitution of a powdered thaumatin with a liquid form reduced symptoms among the rhinitic workers. Although gum arabic is a well‐known potential allergen, we were unable to find prior documentation of allergic symptoms to thaumatin when it is used in the food industry.

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