Which of the following foods is commonly associated with latex allergy cross-reactivity?

• A. Bananas
• B. Oranges
• C. Grapes
• D. Pineapple

Answer: (A)

Latex allergy cross-reactivity occurs when the immune system’s IgE antibodies that react to latex also recognize similar proteins in certain fruits. This pattern, often called latex-fruit syndrome, explains why some people with latex allergy react to specific foods. Among the options, banana is the classic association—many individuals with latex allergy experience reactions to banana because of these shared proteins. The other fruits listed are not commonly linked to latex cross-reactivity, so they’re less likely to trigger the same response. Reactions can include oral symptoms like itching or swelling after eating the fruit, reflecting the cross-reactive IgE response.