Alpha-gal: why more people are developing a meat allergy

Reports of life-threatening reactions to animal products are soaring worldwide – and a tiny insect is to blame

Castor bean tick
The castor bean tick has been identified as one of the tick species causing the condition
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Most of us know someone who is gluten or lactose intolerant but now a new food allergy appears to be spreading across the world.

Increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed as allergic to red meat after suffering reactions to “alpha-gal” - a sugar found in the blood of many mammals. Although alpha-gal in meat usually poses no problems for humans, people can become sensitised to the carbohydrate after being bitten by a tick.

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