Sneaky ingredients.

The obvious stuff is easy. It's the broth in the soup and the gelatin in the candy that get you.

Foods that may contain alpha-gal

  • Mammal meat

    Beef, pork, lamb, venison, rabbit and other mammal meat, plus organ meats such as liver and kidneys. The CDC says people with alpha-gal syndrome are more likely to react to these than to other alpha-gal products.

  • Lard, tallow and suet

    Mammal fats, and anything made or cooked with them. Some people are sensitive to these.

  • Broth, bouillon, stock and gravy

    Meat-based versions are an easy way for mammal to end up in something that looks harmless.

  • Gelatin

    Gelatin made from beef or pork is a problem for some people. Candy is the usual suspect, and it also turns up in medication.

  • Milk and milk products

    Many people with alpha-gal syndrome can tolerate dairy, but not everyone can. That's why our picks flag it, and you can filter it out.

Not just food

Medications and vaccines may contain additives, stabilizers or coatings that contain alpha-gal, including gelatin, glycerin, magnesium stearate and bovine extract. Some medical products, including heparin and pig or cow heart valves, come from animals too. Not everyone reacts to these.

Don't skip a medication or vaccine because of this list. Take those decisions to your doctor or pharmacist.

Foods that don't contain alpha-gal

Poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, fruits and vegetables. Check how they were prepared, though. Chicken from a shared grill or fries from shared oil may have touched mammal meat or fat, so ask if you're not sure.

This list isn't complete. The CDC says its own list doesn't cover every product or ingredient, and reactions can differ each time, even to the same product. Your allergist knows your triggers better than any website.

Source for the ingredient lists: CDC, Products That May Contain Alpha-gal.