Is it possible to be allergic to eggs but be able to eat baked goods with eggs?

Question: Is it possible to be allergic to eggs but be able to eat baked goods with eggs?

Answer: Yes, in fact this is quite common. Allergists have known for years that people with even severe allergic reactions to eggs were often able to eat eggs in baked goods such as cakes and muffins. The reason for this was not clear until recently. We’ve also known that people with food allergies to the raw foods (such as allergy to fresh fruits) were often able to eat those foods when they were cooked or processed. However, most people don’t go around eating raw eggs, and most egg-allergic people would still have allergic reactions even with a thoroughly cooked scrambled egg.

A recent study assessed the ability of people with a known allergy to egg to eat foods containing extensively heated egg, such as in waffles and muffins. The study showed that the majority of egg-allergic people (70%) were able to consume foods containing extensively heated egg, but not egg that was cooked in a “regular” manner, such as in scrambled eggs or French toast. It appears that the higher temperatures achieved for these baked goods destroyed the egg proteins enough that the allergic antibodies were not able to recognize them.

Interestingly, the egg-allergic people who tolerated extensively heated eggs showed that their skin test size to egg became smaller as they ate more baked goods containing eggs. There were also other signs on blood tests that suggested these people had begun to resolve their egg allergy to all types of egg products.

If you are allergic to eggs, it is extremely important that you do not attempt to eat any food that may contain eggs without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor, preferably an allergist, should perform an oral food challenge under close medical supervision prior to allowing you to eat any food containing eggs at home.

Learn more about outgrowing food allergies.

_Source:

Lemon-Mule H, et al. Immunologic Changes in Children with Egg Allergy Ingesting Extensively Heated Egg. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008; 122:977-83.

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