What is a Dietary Nitrate Allergy?

Dietary nitrate allergies occur in individuals with sensitivities to additives and preservatives that their bodies cannot digest properly, causing an array of reactions.

Significance

• A dietary nitrate allergy is a reaction to chemical nitrates used to preserve, flavor and colorize foods. It produces symptoms within minutes of ingestion in people with chemical sensitivities.

Function

• Nitrate allergies manifest when the body recognizes the ingested chemical as being harmful, causing antibody responses that lead to histamine releases, resulting in inflammation.

Effects

• Individuals with nitrate allergies may experience skin irritation in the form of itchy hives, swelling and redness, fatigue and headache, congestion and asthma complications, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Identification

• Nitrates are found in cured and processed meats such as hot dogs, bologna, sausage and bacon. They retard the growth of bacteria that can spoil meats, while adding artificial red coloring.

Prevention/Solution

• Nitrate allergic reactions can be avoided by eliminating foods that contain the substance from the diet. Allergic outbreaks can be treated with topical and oral antihistamines and inhalers to reduce inflammation and irritation.