That Shit's Bananas

Recently Sommer and Yglesias publicly cast aspersions on my allergy to bananas, or more specifically, on the banana allergy phenomenon. Tragically, their ignorance speaks volumes. Dating back to the first botanical studies by Theophrastus in 400 BC, the scientific literature on bananas is extensive—as you would expect, given that banana production exceeds that of apples and citrus fruits combined—though the antigenicity of bananas was first described only 80 years ago. Nevertheless, recent studies show that bananas are, in fact, a frequent cause of food allergy.

As it happens, bananallergic individuals often often share an allergy to latex, avocados, melons, and kiwis (all of which share a similar group of proteins that provoke the IgE antibody). I'm not allergic to latex, but eating avocado causes my mouth and throat to itch (never enough to prevent me from eating delicious, delicious guacamole). Melons cause a lesser reaction. Kiwis are, of course, disgusting, and my allergy to them is purely moral.