Fresh pineapple contains enzymes called proteases.

Myrna sent the following information: Fresh pineapple contains enzymes called proteases. Proteases break down (digest) proteins. Since your tongue is made up of lots of protein, then eating lots of tasty, fresh pineapple can make your tongue tender. This is why pineapple is included in many meat-heavy feasts (think Hawaii). The fresher the pineapple, the more protease that will be present. So, this process of tenderness is a given.

When pineapple is canned, it goes through a process called autoclaving to kill bacteria and spores so it will be safe for many years. This process also destroys the protease enzymes. This process could also potentially destroy the protein fragment that you may have an allergy to.

Bottom line... if you have the sensation with fresh pineapple and not with canned, then you probably don't have an allergy. If you do for both, then there is a better chance that you do have an allergy. 

Then, you would take two Benedryll thirty minutes before, and eat the canned pineapple again. If the sensation does not appear for a few hours (when it did before), then that would suggest you do have allergies.


Amy G. wrote: Don't know who thinks they are allergic....... BUT, if you like fresh pineapple, but don't like what it does to your tongue here's what you can do.

Cut the fresh pineapple up into chunks and let it sit in the fridge overnight.  The enzymes break down and you can eat it much easier the next day.  I love pineapple and buy it often.  This is what I do so I can eat it as much as I want!  :)  Enjoy!
Amy


Myrna wrote: I didn't know what happened to me, Myrna, but after I ate four pieces of fresh pineapple at Brick Oven on Thursday evening, all the skin from the insides of my cheeks and the roof of my mouth peeled off. My tongue was tender and my throat sore. Jared was here and, at first, said he didn't think it could be skin peeling away. But we discovered that, indeed, it was my skin peeling away, as in a sunburn. I found this about proteases and it seemed to explain what had happened. I will follow your suggestion for pineapple when I prepare it here at home but I don't think I will eat it at Brick Oven again. We think that I do not have an allergy because I can eat canned pineapple but I must have had REALLY fresh pineapple. (Think meat tenderizer.)

Thanks for the hint. M


Amy G. wrote: hmmm. weird.  I know there are different varieties of pineapple, some are a lot more acidic than others.  The grocery stores usually try to sell the low acid or "mild" varieties...  Sorry you had to go through that.