-Gal Syndrome: Busting Paradigms in Food Allergy.

-Gal syndrome, also known as red or mammalian meat allergy, results from immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity responses to the carbohydrate galactose--1,3-galactose (-gal). Patients with -gal syndrome experience immediate onset of allergic symptoms following the injection of pharmaceutical products containing -gal. However, it typically takes 2 hours or more after dietary -gal ingestion before patients with -gal syndrome experience immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity responses. The case report by Heffes-Doon and colleagues highlights the lack of official guidelines on when and how to reintroduce mammalian meat products into the diet when there is clear laboratory evidence of declining -gal immunoglobulin E levels.