Comments on: Eggplant: Itchy Mouthfeel?

By: debbie

debbie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:21:53 +0000

I know this was an old posting but reading everyones examples of eggplant allergic reactions have been very helpful. My husband resently had a severe reaction to something he ate at a catered event. He had a piece of grilled eggplant and imediatly his tongue began to swell he suddenly got itchy all over. I asked the doorman to run to the pharmacy a block a way to get some Benadryl gel tablets. My husband could barely swallow them. He became light headed and the doorman called an ambulance. At the hospital the doctors said the benadryl tablets may have saved his life and was amazed that I new what he needed. They gave him more ant-histimines kept him over night then released him, but then he started having severe diarreha and nasuea, which I guess is probably the delayed response to the attack. After 3 days in bed, weak, dehydrated and tired, he is still taking benadryl, prednisone, zantax, and now we have added some good digestve bacteria to his list of meds.This is not to taken lightly, we will look very closely to everthing in the night shade family along with everything else we both eat. He has never been known to be allergic to anything, but I have had asthma, eczema, and several allergies to inhalents and pollens that I have pretty much over come through allergy shots and controlling with ani-histimins.

By: T

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:10:29 +0000

I love the Smitten Kitchen lady’s pictures, they’re awesome! I have yet to try any of her recipes.

On the topic, I was Googling and found your post, as well as this one: http://thereses-rose-garden.blogspot.com/2006/09/how-to-prepare-eggplants.html

It talks about how there’s a chemical called solanine in eggplant and other nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, etc.) but it’s much more prevalent in eggplant, especially eggplant that isn’t fully ripe.. Apparently you should salt it and rinse off the salt and then cook it really really well until it’s mushy. The more you cook it, the less solanine remains. I notice I get itchy mouth or upset stomach after eating eggplant when I make it myself (sometimes) but if I have it at a restaurant that doesn’t happen. I’m pretty sure it’s a matter of eating them undercooked.

She also suggests removing the peel but I think nature intended us to eat the peel… More fibre, and it’s so darn yummy (that’s the best part!).

By: Not Eating Out in New York » Chilled Eggplant Soup

Not Eating Out in New York » Chilled Eggplant Soup — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:03:58 +0000

[...] The eggplant is a peculiar bird in the nighshade vegetable family; unlike tomatoes, another member, it needs to be cooked. I wouldn’t recommend skimping on this procedure either, lest you should detect the bothersome “itchy mouth syndrome.” [...]

By: Kay

Kay — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:41:16 +0000

My mom was allergic to eggplant and now at 59 yo, I have just become allergic to it. I was enjoying some Japanese eggplant yesterday that I had baked with olive oil and Parmesan, when I started coughing and could not stop. This morning I had terrible sinus problems. Guess I will not be eating anymore eggplant but I love it. Didn’t know allergies were passed down.

By: JeAn

JeAn — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:33:23 +0000

I just got done eating a Kiwi and a bad case of the itchy and my throat felt tight. So I picked up the computer to see, what if any symptoms were on the net. So this helped a little. I was around 12 when I just couldn’t eat eggplant anymore. My mouth felt like it was on fire. When I was about 20 I couldn’t eat pineapple and now I’m almost 30 and one Kiwi almost closed my throat completely. But what didn’t help is some of the things that bather some of you doesn’t even effect me.

By: brandon

brandon — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:36:11 +0000

that happens to me to only cause u have an allergic reaction to which means u r allergic to egg plant

By: dave

dave — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:19:08 +0000

just ate A cherry. im dying. thats why im on here. apparently we should start a club. most fruits, some vegetables, give me the itchy mouth/ears. if i eat a lot, it makes my throat close up and i have reduced hearing, as well as the itchy turns into burning. i was told it was ragweed allergys and was given medication. its getting to the point RIGHT NOW, that im considering going to the ER, and i had 1 cherry. i really hate this.

By: Carl

Carl — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:59:29 +0000

I’ve had a rather substantial reaction to eggplant ever since I can remember: I’ve eaten it all my life and I’ve always had a reaction to some degree or other. My mom used to fry breaded eggplant for our family when I was a kid: I LOVED it, but my mouth would invariably feel sore afterwards. I had some great baba ganoush (eggplant tahini) the other night, which left painful welts on my tongue and inside my mouth, but damn, it was delicious! So I just have to partake of eggplant in moderation, because it WILL hurt if I eat a lot of it at once.
Depending on the way the eggplant’s prepared, the reaction can be more than just localized orally: I once had some eggplant parmesan and it actually irritated me on its way down my esophagus, so much so that I almost felt like I was going to regurgitate, but I managed to keep it down.
So, when it comes to eggplant consumption, I must quote Nietzsche: “What does not kill me makes me stronger.” (Let’s hope.)

By: Tonia

Tonia — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:05:48 +0000

I thought I didn’t have any allergies, except maybe to rockmelon (cantalope) when i get this weird indigestion/gastro reaction like my intestine can’t digest it…. but just tonight I have had my second reaction to eggplant in a couple of days and completely different to anything anyone has mentioned on here. My mouth imediately starts to water, my heart races and I feel like I am going to throw up. Drinking some water seemed to help tonight and making myself stay calm also. It passes in a matter of minutes. Tonight I ate baba ganoush bought from a shop and last time it was eggplant I roasted well myself. I have also realised that the sore mouth I get sometimes might be related to allergies so I will have to record when I get that in the future.

By: Trisha

Trisha — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:05:10 +0000

WOW! I just started to eat eggplant and I didn’t really pay close attention but after eating it a couple times the inside of my mouth was really itchy. I still didn’t put much thought into because I have never had a reaction to anything EVER…However I was just eating eggplant and it happend again, so I googled it and here I am! I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one! It kinda sucks because I just started to eat it and of course-I love it…I’m sure I’ll eat it here and there. However I’m really not sure if thats safe???? Guess I’ll talk to my doctor.