26 Reasons These Fruits May Cause Allergies

Take a good look. These fruits all contain possibly harmful and dangerous allergens and should be banned – or at the very least – come with warning labels so we can all be properly informed before deciding whether or not we want to ingest them or – heaven forbid –feed them to our children.

What's The Deal?

These fruits (and many other fruits – and many vegetables) contain components that must by law be declared on the ingredients labels of cosmetics in Europe – because these very same ingredients also happen to be components of some essential oils.

Explain Please

Take that innocent looking strawberry – it contains eugenol and benzyl acetate which you will also find present in ylang ylang and clove essential oil.
Lemons contain limonene – also to be found in lemon as well as orange essential oil.
The apricot is a veritable bomb of possible allergens: it has linalool, methyleugenol, terpineol and phenylethanol. These same ingredients are also found in the essential oils of lavender and rose.
The apples contain phenylethanol and terpineol – also present in rose and lavender essential oil.

Connecting The Dots

It's perfectly legal (and acceptable) to sell fruit without labelling or warnings. Think of it. Have you ever seen a fruit stand offering allergen-free apples?

No?

Me either.

Why?

Because apparantly these ingredients are safe as long as they are in food. And apparantly when they make their way into cosmetics, they must be declared on the ingredients label as possible allergens.

In short, we can eat them without worry, but not put them on our skin for fear of possible allergic reactions.

Shall we pause for a moment so that little tidbit of information can sink in?

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I need another moment

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Nope, sorry, I'm still gobsmacked.

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The Food and Fragrance Connection

Apart from being present in many fruits and vegetables, the essential oil constituents mentioned above are typically also found as part of the fragrance in cosmetics products. And we all know that fragrance equals allergies, right? I mean, studies have shown that these ingredients are accumulating in our bodies – all due to the fragrances in cosmetics ... right?

What Does a Leading Essential Oils Expert Say About That

Robert Tisserand explains in a recent blog post:
"As far as the fragrant compounds are concerned, they are naturally found in some common foods (see Table), so that could be one reason that they are found in our bodies. Limonene and pinene are ubiquitous simply because so many trees produce them. If you have pine furniture, it will give off limonene and pinene vapors. If you have paint thinned with turpentine, same deal, because turpentine is made from pine trees. If you live near trees…basically, if you’re breathing, you are inhaling limonene and pinene."

Read the entire post entitled 'Ingredient Obsession' here

The 26 Reasons

Below are the 26 ingredients that must by law be declared on the label of cosmetics in Europe. These 26 ingredients may also be present in the fruit and/or vegetables you eat every day – but don't worry – apparantly, they don't 'count' if they are in food.

1. Amyl Cinnamal
2. Benzyl Alcohol (read a post about this ingredient on this blog)
3. Cinnamyl Alcohol
4. Citral
5. Eugenol
6. Hydroxy-citronellal 
7. Isoeugenol
8. Amylcinnamyl Alcohol 
9. Benzyl Salicylate
10. Cinnamal
11. Coumarin
12. Geraniol
13. Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
14. Anisyl Alcohol 
15. Benzyl Cinnamate
16. Farnesol (read a post about this ingredient on this blog)
17. Butylphenyl Methylpropional 
18. Linalool
19. Benzyl Benzoate
20. Citronellol
21. Hexyl Cinnama
22. d-Limonene
23. Methyl heptin carbonate 
24. Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone 
25. Evernia Prunastri (Oakmoss extract)
26. Evernia Furfuracea (Treemoss extract)

Have a safe and allergen-free day.

Ref: Essential Oil and Fruit Comparison information from Robert Tisserands table graphic in this Post.