Sudden reaction to baked beans

[Symo39]

Today my DS (age 3) had a rash on his face after eating at a cafe. The area around his mouth was very red, so I headed straight to the pharmacy to get some antihistamines. Within 45 minutes of taking the medicine his face returned to normal.

I've been wondering what could've caused it and planned to get a GP appointment on Monday. DH has just showed me photos of the day, one was of DS covered in baked bean juice all around his mouth. We've just realised the rash has covered the exact shape that the baked bean juice was around his mouth! It's so strange as DS loves baked beans, eats them weekly and has most certainly covered his entire face with bean juice before without any problems. DS has absolutely no history of any allergies at all. What do you recommend I do?

It’s quite common to have a reaction to tomato - my child got it from ketchup and beans. It’s the acid in it not an allergy. They were probably just diff baked beans that were more acidic. If there were no other signs o wouldn’t think you needed to go to the doctor.

It could be that the cafe are using sub-par crappy wholesale baked beans with some dodgy additive(s) in them

Thank you for responding so quickly. I didn't realise it was common to have a reaction to tomato. Hopefully it was just a one off!

I’m severely allergic to tomato. Causes stomach cramps, and several days of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Can’t even tolerate prawn cocktail crisps. Very limiting.

Oh no, sorry to hear that. DS was himself, apart from the facial rash. No signs of a bad tummy or anything yet (he ate the beans at 1pm today).

My son gets a red swollen rash around his lips if he eats cheaper/own brand beans. For some reason Heinz doesn’t trigger it. I was told some cheaper brands have a higher content of the acid so now we just stick to Heinz.

Ketchup does the same. Kids usually grow out of it by about 5 or 6. It’s just skin sensitivity it is not a reaction in an allergic sense.

Admittedly I did freak the first time it happened though!

It could have just been a contact rash to the tomato as pp have said it’s very common with tomato. It’s hives you want to look out for. Hope little one is ok.