Pineapples are delicious, but eating too much raw pineapple can cause an unpleasant burning feeling on your tongue and the roof of your mouth. It might seem like pineapple acid is the culprit, or maybe a pineapple allergy. In reality, pineapple hurts your mouth because of a unique enzyme called bromelain.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take if the irritating sensation becomes too bothersome so you can still enjoy this tasty and nutritious fruit.
Why Pineapple Hurts Your Mouth
Eating fresh pineapple can cause some discomfort in your mouth because of a certain enzyme called bromelain, according to McGill University.
Bromelain breaks down proteins, and it actually starts breaking down your mouth lining just a little bit, causing an irritating or burning feeling. Luckily, the strong acid in your stomach breaks down the bromelain in turn, which is why pineapple doesn’t cause the same sort of irritation throughout your digestive system.
Another factor is that pineapple is quite acidic. According to Cleveland Clinic, acidic foods like pineapple can trigger a painful canker sore or make an existing canker sore worse. Plus, eating acidic foods might lead to acid reflux, also known as heartburn, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
While bromelain might be the cause of that acid burn feeling after eating pineapple, it is a useful substance. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a small number of studies have shown that isolated bromelain may be helpful in reducing nasal inflammation and reducing pain and swelling following wisdom teeth removal. However, more research is needed.
Additionally, topical bromelain has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the removal of dead skin or tissue from severe burns in adults.
How to Avoid Pineapple Burn
Social media platforms like TikTok are full of hacks to stop pineapple from hurting your mouth, like soaking chunks of pineapple in salt water before eating.
However, the only guaranteed way to remove bromelain from fresh pineapple is to heat it. This is why canned pineapple shouldn’t cause burning, as the heating process required to can the fruit destroys the enzyme, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. You can also try cooking the pineapple, grilling it, or baking it in a dessert.
Symptoms of a Pineapple Allergy
If the inside of your mouth feels itchy after you eat pineapple, you might have oral allergy syndrome, also called pollen-food sensitivity syndrome.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, oral allergy syndrome is when people who are allergic to pollen feel itching or swelling inside their mouth after eating certain types of produce.
This type of allergy has been seen after people have eaten produce like apples, celery, melon, and pineapple. That’s because the proteins found in some fruits and veggies are very similar to those found in pollen, which confuses your immune system and causes a reaction.
Symptoms usually appear right after eating raw fruits or veggies and include itching or swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, and throat.
Oral allergy syndrome is typically mild, though very serious cases may cause severe throat swelling that affects your breathing. While extremely rare, oral allergy syndrome can also cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that requires emergency treatment with epinephrine.
If symptoms cause significant discomfort, get progressively worse, or are caused by cooked fruits and vegetables, talk to your doctor. If you develop severe symptoms like difficulty breathing seek medical attention right away.
