Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

When I was a child and we went to Mexico to visit relatives, I always developed a rash around my lips. Everyone there has mango forks to spear the fruit on the side after it has been peeled, and the delicious fruit is eaten that way, usually with lots of juice getting all over one's mouth.

Finally decided that it was probably the mangoes, so when we went to the US we bought one, and I ate it and I developed the rash. I didn't eat another mango until about 20 years later. I was living in S. Florida and got the bright idea to bring some mangoes home from work. I thought perhaps I had outgrown the allergy. So many people there have the trees in their yards that they can't even give them away fast enough.

I decided to make a mango milk shake. I peeled it and got juice all over my hands and some of it splashed a bit on my knees because I was wearing shorts.

Sorry for getting into intimate details but this is important. I washed my hands what I thought was thoroughly, but I guess it was not. I went to the bathroom. Let's just say that the part of the penis exposed by circumcision developed a horrible rash. I suppose this could be an argument against circumcision.

So I had a bad rash here and there wherever the juice i.e. oils touched. I was vomiting and had diarrhea very bad. I did not seek medical treatment, but perhaps I should have.

So what brings us to June 8, 20008? I bought some yoghurt and didn't pay attention that it was mango. It had small, bite-size pieces and I tasted that old delicious but almost deadly flavor.

I am in a hotel room right now in Haifa, Israel, resting, taking fluids and trying to read up more on the subject. I went downstairs a few hours ago and saw the wonderful Israeli breakfast spread before me, and I could only have some green tea and plain joghurt until this nausea passes.I always thought I was good about asking if there were mangoes in a fruit salad, etc., but I got lax just buying a yoghurt.

Mango allergy can kill. Be very careful. Treat it just as serious as a penicillin allergy.