Mammalian meat

Updated September 2024

What is mammalian meat allergy

Prevention

What is mammalian meat allergy?

Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA) is an allergy to mammalian meats or products made from mammalian meats. A person may develop MMA after they have been previously bitten by a tick. The connection between tick bites and developing MMA was discovered by Sydney clinical immunology/allergy specialist, Associate Professor Sheryl van Nunen OAM. A carbohydrate called alpha-galactose (alpha-gal) has found to be connected with the development of MMA.

MMA can develop weeks (or longer) after a tick bite. Some people who develop MMA are known to have had allergic reactions to ticks (such as a large local reaction or anaphylaxis). Other people, who did not have an allergic reaction when they were bitten by a tick, still go on to develop MMA .

A person with MMA can experience a mild or moderate allergic reaction or severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

What are mammalian meats?

Mammals are warm blooded animals that produce milk to feed their young and have a unique jaw structure.

Mammalian meats include but are not limited to:

Beef
Pork
Lamb
Kangaroo
Goat
Horse
Venison
Exotic animals including whales and dolphins.

What is not mammalian meat?

Poultry – such as chicken, turkey, duck, and quail, as these meats come from birds.
Seafood – includes fish, crustacea and molluscs.
Crocodile – is a reptile.

Examples of mammalian meat products

Gelatin – Gelling/Setting agents made from mammals.
Fats – Tallow, suet, lard.

Why is MMA different to other food allergy?

Unlike immediate type food allergy, which is caused by the protein in the food, the mammalian meat allergen (thing that causes the allergic reaction) is a carbohydrate called alpha-galactose (alpha-gal). Alpha-gal is found in meat from all mammals except humans, great apes and old world monkeys. It is also found in the saliva of ticks.

Most allergic reactions to food happen within a few minutes to 2 hours of eating the allergen but in MMA the reaction is delayed, often occurring 2-6 hours after eating mammalian meat. Many people with MMA will wake up in the night with symptoms of an allergic reaction after having eaten dinner containing mammalian meat hours earlier.

Another difference is that MMA can get better. If ticks are avoided and a person with MMA does not get bitten again, levels of allergy antibody to alpha gal can lower over 12 to 18 months. Some people with MMA can return to eating mammalian meat after 3–4 years if they do not get any further tick bites. Further tick bites can increase the level of allergy antibody to alpha gal in a person with MMA.

How can you prevent MMA developing?

Safely removing ticks is an important part of reducing the risk of developing MMA. See our tick page for more information.

How to remove ticks safely

It is very important that the tick is removed correctly to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis and/or reduce the development an allergy to tick bites. The safest way to remove a tick:

Freeze the tick, using sprays containing ether available from a pharmacy. This rapidly freezes and kills the tick within five minutes and allows it to drop off. Do not use chemicals such as methylated spirits or kerosene.
If the tick does not drop off or cannot be frozen, leave the tick in place and seek medical help to remove the tick.

To prevent tick allergy, it is important that ticks are not forcibly removed or touched as this may cause the tick to inject more allergen-causing saliva into the person.

Those at risk of anaphylaxis to ticks should have them removed by a doctor in a hospital.

If you are in an area that is known to have many ticks, it is important not to scratch anything that you cannot see.

What should I include in my first aid kit if I live in an area with ticks?

If you live in or visit an area that has ticks, it is a good idea to include in your first aid kit an ether-based spray, such as Tic Off®, and a permethrin cream, such as Lyclear®. Ether spray can be used to kill adult ticks and the permethrin cream to kill the nymph or larval ticks. This allows the ticks to be killed while still attached to the skin and drop off.

If you are not able to safely kill the tick, consult a medical specialist or hospital emergency department to have it removed.

This image shows an example of a tick on human skin.

Signs and symptoms of allergic reactions to mammalian meat

An allergic reaction due to MMA is normally delayed, often happening 2 to 6 hours after eating the mammalian meat or mammalian product.

Allergic reactions range from mild to severe.
Some people with MMA get symptoms that are like irritable bowel syndrome.
Other people develop mild to moderate skin symptoms like urticaria (hives) or swelling (angioedema).

Symptoms may at first be mild or moderate but can progress rapidly to anaphylaxis. However, it is important to remember that signs of a mild or moderate allergic reaction may not always occur before anaphylaxis.

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis

Emergency preparation

Getting diagnosed with MMA

If you think you have had an allergic reaction to mammalian meat, mammalian meat products, or mammalian-derived gelatin, it is important that you make an appointment to speak with your General practitioner (GP). If your GP believes it is MMA, they should refer you to an allergy specialist. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has a list of specialists in each state.

The allergy specialist will take a clinical history of the reaction and ask whether you have had a tick bite, check what you ate and when you ate before you had your allergic reaction. A blood test to check alpha gal may also be done to help confirm the diagnosis.

How can you manage MMA once you have been diagnosed?

Discuss how to manage MMA with your allergy specialist.

It is important to make sure that any food products, medications, supplements or vaccines do not contain mammalian meat products or gelatine made from mammal. The way to manage MMA is to avoid eating mammalian meat and products made from mammalian meat.

Diet

Be aware that mammalian meat products can be hidden in foods. Example include but are not limited to lollies, jams, soups, hot chips, gravy.

Some people with MMA also need to avoid mammalian milk such as cow’s, goat, and camel milk. If you think you are having MMA symptoms to mammalian milk or milk products, talk with your allergy specialist. Not all people with MMA need to avoid mammalian milk/milk products.

If a person has MMA, another source of protein, iron, and B group vitamins (B1, B2, B6 and B12) is required for adequate nutrition. Speak to a doctor or dietitian for advice.

It is possible for an allergic reaction to occur when mammalian meat is being cooked near them, as the meat fumes are released into the air. Speak to your allergy doctor about cooking mammalian meat in your home.

REMEMBER: You cannot tell what ingredients foods contain by looking at them, smelling them or tasting them. ALWAYS read labels when eating packaged food and when eating out, ALWAYS tell people preparing and serving food you have a food allergy. ASK about food content after you have told them about your food allergy.

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia worked with TiARA to develop two resources to help (download them below):

MMA food allergen cards list food and products that may have mammalian meat. Download the food allergen card to your phone or print and place on your refrigerator at home.
MMA chef card which you can use when eating out, in addition to telling the wait staff about your allergies, hand over your chef card and ask it to come back with your specially prepared meal.

Medical products

Some vaccinations and medications include mammalian meat by-products. Artificial blood known as gelatin colloids (Haemaccel, Gelofusine) can also be a risk to people with MMA. Talk with your doctor about what vaccinations or medications to avoid with MMA.

People with MMA should wear a medical identification bracelet or similar warning of allergy to medical products containing mammalian meat derived ingredients.

Managing reactions

People diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis due to MMA, should be prescribed an adrenaline (epinephrine) injector (such as EpiPen® or Anapen®) and given an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis.

Use the ASCIA action plan to identify signs of anaphylaxis and follow the instructions on the plan.

Try and avoid further tick bites.

For tips on how to avoid tick bites visit our Ticks page.

For more information on mammalian meat allergy visit the TiARA website.

Webinars

Webinar: Mammalian meat allergy

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