Allergic to American cheese, but not others?

Miller238

After we received our daughter's latest round of RAST testing results, we were given the go ahead to introduce cheese and yogurt. She was .14 to casein and .24 to milk. So, I bought her some horizon organic colby and mozzarella cheese sticks and horizon organic American cheese slices. She was eating and tolerating the cheese sticks, so we moved on to the American cheese. I melted some over noodles and she ate it. It was all over her face and about 10 minutes after consumption, she had hives where the cheese was touching her face and blotchy skin all over her face and she was itching her neck and skin like crazy. Gave her Benadryl and she was fine. I called the allergist and was told to not let the cheese touch her face and that it may just be a contact allergy. Today, I gave her a slice of American cheese, and the same reaction happened. She does not react to the cheese sticks at all. Can you be allergic to one type of cheese and not another? Thanks for any insight!

browneyedgoil

i'm not sure but maybe it has more casein in it or something. i read that casein is what makes cheese melt somewhere. that is awesome though that she is outgrowing!

klyann

Isn't american more processed?  Could there be an additive that the others don't have?  Or possibly factory cross contamination? 

ournaturaljourney

I wouldn't even consider American "cheese" a cheese. It is a processed food product. In fact, it cannot legally be labeled as "cheese" in the United States.

Look at the ingredient label. If other diary products aren't causing a problem, I would suspect some of the other additives are the source of the reaction.

amy21tom

ournaturaljourney:

I wouldn't even consider American "cheese" a cheese. It is a processed food product. In fact, it cannot legally be labeled as "cheese" in the United States.

Look at the ingredient label. If other diary products aren't causing a problem, I would suspect some of the other additives are the source of the reaction.

definitely this! 

Miller238

They have the same ingredients!  That is why I am so confused.  They are the Horizon brand organic cheeses. 

amy21tom

Miller238:

They have the same ingredients!  That is why I am so confused.  They are the Horizon brand organic cheeses. 

 

hmm, that is very strange! I wonder if maybe the american one has a larger amount of one of the ingredients?? Weird!

amy21tom

Miller238:

They have the same ingredients!  That is why I am so confused.  They are the Horizon brand organic cheeses. 

 

hmm, that is very strange! I wonder if maybe the american one has a larger amount of one of the ingredients?? Weird!

Miller238

amy21tom:

hmm, that is very strange! I wonder if maybe the american one has a larger amount of one of the ingredients?? Weird!

That's a good point.  The American one has three kinds of milk listed (Cultured organic pasteurized milk, organic nonfat milk, organic milkfat) and the sticks only have one (Cultured organic pasteurized milk).  I guess when I said the same ingredients, I meant the milk in general. 

TexasMommyof2

Hi! I found this post via the internet. I am wondering if you found anything out. My daughter who is almost 3 is having problems with american cheese only.  She gets diarrhea very shortly after eating it. She has not been tested for any allergies yet and I was very surprised that it is only with american cheese. Thanks for your time.