UK Department of Entomology: Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

A review of the Alpha-Gal red meat allergy.

UK Department of Entomology: Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

Last updated:
March 10, 2025
|  5 min read
A photo of two ticks.

UK Department of Entomology: Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

UK Department of Entomology: Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

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A review of the Alpha-Gal red meat allergy.

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UK Department of Entomology: Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

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Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

Fast Facts
Alpha-gal syndrome or red meat allergy is an allergic condition. Those with the condition must forgo eating beef, lamb, pork, and wild game. Sufferers can still eat poultry, seafood, eggs, and plant-based sources of protein.
Symptoms can include gastrointestinal issue such as nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea and other allergic symptoms such as cough, hives, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the eyes/tongue/lips/throat, amongst others.
Alpha-gal is currently only known to be spread by the lone star tick, which is also the most commonly encountered species of tick in Kentucky.
Not every lone star tick bite will result in the red meat allergy. Allergic symptoms can appear 3-6 hours after eating red meat and sufferers will need to consult with a physician or allergist for diagnosis and management.

Continue reading to learn more, written by Heather Norman-Burgdolf.

UK Department of Entomology: Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

Fast Facts
Alpha-gal syndrome or red meat allergy is an allergic condition. Those with the condition must forgo eating beef, lamb, pork, and wild game. Sufferers can still eat poultry, seafood, eggs, and plant-based sources of protein.
Symptoms can include gastrointestinal issue such as nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea and other allergic symptoms such as cough, hives, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the eyes/tongue/lips/throat, amongst others.
Alpha-gal is currently only known to be spread by the lone star tick, which is also the most commonly encountered species of tick in Kentucky.
Not every lone star tick bite will result in the red meat allergy. Allergic symptoms can appear 3-6 hours after eating red meat and sufferers will need to consult with a physician or allergist for diagnosis and management.

Continue reading to learn more, written by Heather Norman-Burgdolf.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Professor
Heather Norman-Burgdolf
Heather Norman-Burgdolf joined the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition as an Extension faculty member in January 2017.
Mentions dans les médias

UK Department of Entomology: Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

Life with Alpha-Gal Red Meat Allergy

Fast Facts
Alpha-gal syndrome or red meat allergy is an allergic condition. Those with the condition must forgo eating beef, lamb, pork, and wild game. Sufferers can still eat poultry, seafood, eggs, and plant-based sources of protein.
Symptoms can include gastrointestinal issue such as nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea and other allergic symptoms such as cough, hives, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the eyes/tongue/lips/throat, amongst others.
Alpha-gal is currently only known to be spread by the lone star tick, which is also the most commonly encountered species of tick in Kentucky.
Not every lone star tick bite will result in the red meat allergy. Allergic symptoms can appear 3-6 hours after eating red meat and sufferers will need to consult with a physician or allergist for diagnosis and management.

Continue reading to learn more, written by Heather Norman-Burgdolf.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Professor
Heather Norman-Burgdolf
Heather Norman-Burgdolf joined the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition as an Extension faculty member in January 2017.
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