Shortly after dinner last night, I enjoyed a small bowl of some new So Delicious frozen dessert that we picked up at the grocery store. I don’t usually buy frozen dessert unless I need it for a special dessert for a group (otherwise I just make Banana Soft Serve!). Normally, I buy Coconut Bliss frozen dessert, but the only problem is that it’s very expensive for a tiny container (around $7-8). Last night I opted for this new soy-based kind because it’s twice the size and a few dollars cheaper.
![IMG_8353[3]](/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_83533_thumb.jpg "IMG_8353[3]")
Not even 5 minutes after having a small bowl (maybe half a cup?), I immediately knew something was wrong. The centre of my face started to burn and I walked over to a mirror and my face was the deepest shade of red I’ve ever seen! I felt like I just got the worst sunburn of my life. The redness quickly spread down my neck, shoulders, chest, and arms, and I knew something I ate was not happy in my body!
Eric gave me a Benadryl pill and we headed for the hospital. I was burning up so I brought an ice pack with me in the car and held it on my red arms. My throat felt like it was a bit swollen and my voice sounded like I had a bit of a cold and I was worried that it would get worse. We waited for about an hour at the ER and then I was brought into see the nurse to get my vitals checked out. Everything was fine and a little while later my body just completely returned to normal, except for my throat which was still a bit sore and a lingering headache. The ER was absolutely packed (with over 5 hour wait time), so we decided to head home now that my reaction had subsided. This morning I woke up with a slight headache, but other than that I feel fine.
The only new food I can think that I had yesterday was this frozen dessert. Everything else I ate was stuff I normally eat every day.
When I got home, I checked out the ingredient list:
![IMG_8354[3]](/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_83543_thumb.jpg "IMG_8354[3]")
I looked up Chicory Root Extract and apparently it can cause reactions in some people. I wonder if it was that? I also had no idea that the product may contain traces amounts of tree nuts, dairy protein, and peanuts! I know my sister had a really bad reaction to pine nuts before, but I can’t imagine there would be much in that tiny bowl I had. I also had an allergy test a couple years ago and everything came back negative. Could it be the Chicory Root or maybe something else? Has anyone else ever experienced a reaction like that? I was just thankful I didn’t break out into hives!
On our way home, I picked up a few Canada Day flags for our get together tonight and also a Best Health magazine. Myself and three other bloggers who won the Best Health Blog Awards are featured in the magazine. This was possible because YOU voted for me, so thank you again for your support!
I have a big Canada Day/long weekend BBQ menu post planned, so stay tuned!
Happy Canada Day!!!!!!!!
Glad you’re okay! Allergies are always scary. My doctor told me that I was allergic to eggs, dairy, beef and peanuts (weird mix, I know) and ever since then I’ve stayed away from those foods. It’s just odd because my entire life I ate peanuts until I went to this doctor! I’m going to hopefully go back soon and see if all of these allergies are still there.
Hi Ange,
You should have your allergy tests done again, your allergies go on a seven year cycle and you can develop and drop allergies on that seventh year rapidly. You can develop a new allergy anytime but on the seventh year you can develop multiple allergies or have all but your childhood allergies disappear. Also where you just had that nasty flu that is on the go your body could still be sensitive to new substances and your immune system could still be off. Always be very careful for 4 to 6 months after any illness like the flu or having surgery as those are times when you can develop allergies to new substances you expose yourself to. Have them include a wider nut base and the chicory root in your next rapid allergy tests. Also you might discuss carrying an Epipen (Epinephrine Auto-Injectors). If you have a nut reaction the next one could be life threatening. Glad you didn’t try the frozen desert at your party today and have your day ruined. Happy Canada Day.
thanks mary!
Greetings from the west coast and happy Canada Day to you! The weather is COLD today and overcast, but no matter. We’ll be enjoying the holiday weekend with some hiking, food and friends. Enjoy your celebrations :)
Happy canada day and enjoy your hike!
How scary! So glad you’re alright!! I once had a bad reaction to something (still not sure what – I think it was bc I didn’t drink enough H20 after a deep tissue massage) and I sounded like I had a cold & also had a fever. When I started to not be able to breathe right, I started freaking out and my Dad took me to the ER and they gave me a shot (can’t remember now what it was) and my throat loosened up and all was well, but it was SO scary!
I have a client that reacts to chicory root, just as you did, only she gets hives. Usually that’s a sign of an IgE response your body is having to the food. There are a handful of different types of antibodies that make up your immune system. Allergies are signaled by the IgE reponse (sudden reaction as you had) and sensitivities (think headache, constipation, or difficulty understanding the day after you eat something) are signaled by IgG. Depending on the allergy test you had done, it may not have tested for more than one antibody. (Generally the tests only go after IgG – testing for anaphylaxis)
I wrote a post about allergies and how they come about here, http://www.healthfulpursuit.com/2010/12/introduction-to-allergies-2/ if you’re interested.
As well as different tests out there: http://www.healthfulpursuit.com/2011/03/journey-to-health-steps-in-the-right-direction/
It could have also been the type of soy used. I know that some people have reactions like that to soy with certain products, but not with others. I’m perfectly fine with soy, but I can’t hand any of the “so delicious” products because I react the same as you! Good luck :)
Thanks Leanne!
Actually, hypersensitive and anaphylactic reactions (type I allergy) are IgE-mediated. IgG is involved in type II (cytotoxic) immune reactions, which cause cell destruction via complement activation. Typical allergy testing either provokes the IgE response to an allergen (as in scratch tests) or measures the level of IgE antibodies in the blood. (I’m a medical technologist in the immunology field, so antibody types and allergic reactions have been drilled into me. :-)) In my experience though, allergists don’t test for EVERY potential allergen – only the likely ones. I was tested for all common grass, mold, pollen, and tree allergens, but no animal or food allergens, based on my symptoms. I would highly suggest you have your allergy testing repeated and make sure they include all potential allergens, like soy or dairy. A reaction like the one you had can signify a “first exposure” to an allergen which, upon a second exposure, can cause an anaphylactic reaction since your system has been “primed” to recognize it now… and that can be extremely dangerous. Good luck figuring it out!
Happy Canada Day! No more So Delicious for you! Glad things turned out okay, hopefully it doesn’t flare up again over the weekend at all.
I broke out into full on hives at work yesterday! Luckily it was towards the end of the day so I finished what I was doing and headed out to buy some benadryl but it was scary, I felt so weird in my own skin for a while!
Thank goodness benadryl helped! I hate hospital waiting rooms…
That’s so scary! I’m so glad you’re better and nothing was too serious. I’ve never had a reaction, but I think I wouldn’t handle it so well if it did happen!
That is NOT the type of glow you want. Scary stuff! Glad you are okay.
I’m glad you’re okay! Allergic reactions are terrifying.
What a busy 24 hours! I am so sorry that happened to you, Really odd. Glad all is well now and that you could get attended too.
CONGRATS on Best Health!! NOTHING beats opening a Mag and seeing yourself in there! I will look for it! That is how I first saw you I think, was from Self actually (now maybe 2 years ago or something!)
Happy Canada Day!!
Have you ever been tested for allergies before? Some allergens are crosslinked. Hopefully it won’t happen again though.
Happy Canada day to you too. As a Canadian living in the US I am very homesick today.
Yes a couple years ago but I will be going back now as I hear they can develop at any time!
Eee, scary! Glad you are okay!!
I’m so sorry to hear that you reacted so horribly to SoDelicious ice cream! I’m actually a fan of it, because it’s one of the few brands in the grocery store near me that doesn’t include polysorbate 80 in its ingredients, or coconut oil… <– I'm allergic to both! I've had a severe reaction to a Breyers ice cream before, and my throat closed up so fast that I blacked out for a short period. The worst part is that I live alone! Thankfully – and obviously – I survived with only a sore throat and a weird story to tell, haha.
Who knows, though! There could have been any other ingredient on that list that you're not usually allergic to, but it may have gotten contaminated or something by one of the suppliers for SoDelicious, and you just happened to be the one unlucky customer that bought that particular tub of ice cream. :(
In any case, I'm glad you're okay! In some ways, it's really quite terrifying to have allergies to certain foods or ingredients that pop up often… Hope you enjoy your Canada Day regardless of your sore throat and rough evening!
Happy Canada Day from Vancouver. :)
I’m so glad that the reaction wasn’t worse. Congratulations on the Best Health Magazine award!!! You truly deserved it :)
Hi Angela! Isn’t it a bummer when you react to food? I am wondering if it is the carrageenan that you are allergic to. Carrageenan is a red algae and used as a thickener in most soy-based products. You can get severe rash and headaches from it and unless you are specifically tested for that food in an allergy test, you would never know. I had the Elisa Act allergy test done in 2004 where they tested my blood against 380 different food items and that was my most allergic food. Who would have known? However, once I realized that was my worst allergen, I quickly began looking into the products it was used in and discovered that the soy chai I would order from Starbucks (all those years ago) that I always reacted to with a rash from head to toe was because of the carrageenan in the soymilk they used because soy and chai are not something I react to when I use them at home. That’s why I would keep trying it again and again – knowing I wasn’t allergic to soy and chai and perhaps it was just something else. It was! :-) Now that I am a nutrition consultant, I have discovered that it is a common allergen for many. Might not be your problem, but then again, it may be! :-) Have a happy 4th of July, Angela! We are headed to Hawaii tomorrow for the week!
Hi Angela,
I recently got results from an allergist who told me that when someone is allergic to certain plants, there are related food items that may cause reactions. I’m allergic to ragweed, and two items on my “possible food allergy” list are:
-chicory root
-safflower oil
I can email the full list if you are interested. It was shocking! I have a very unpleasant reaction when I eat most brands of soy ice cream. The best ice cream for me is the coconut milk ice cream by Larry and Luna- it doesn’t have chicory in it. :)
OMG Ange I can’t believe you had such a terrible reaction! I’ve noticed that chicory root is in quite a lot of cereals lately, and I’m thinking it’s because it adds fiber – something a lot of people look for in their cereals. Anyways, I’m glad you’re ok! Can’t wait to see the menu for tonight! :)
HAPPY CANADA DAY! It won’t feel like a true celebration until I get done work tonight at 7:30pm…but luckily it’s only a short shift, so I still have most of the afternoon to do some baking and then after work, the evening to possibly see the fireworks.
So happy the reaction went away. That’s always scary; especially since you ate something that would seem to be so harmless. Maybe it was Coconut Bliss’s way of telling you to stick with them ;). I have some in my freezer from when it was on sale…I’m nursing it like crazy!
HAPPY CANADA DAY! It won’t feel like a true celebration until I get done work tonight at 7:30pm…but luckily it’s only a short shift, so I still have most of the afternoon to do some baking and then after work, the evening to possibly see the fireworks.
So happy the reaction went away. That’s always scary; especially since you ate something that would seem to be so harmless. Maybe it was Coconut Bliss’s way of telling you to stick with them. I have some in my freezer from when it was on sale…I’m nursing it like crazy!