Through a new statewide survey, the Cooperative Extension Service is seeking community input to help Arkansans better understand Alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-associated food allergy.
Alpha-gal syndrome, sometimes referred to as a red meat allergy, is a potentially life-threatening allergy and tick-borne disease. In the United States, the condition most often begins with a lone star tick bite, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Lida Araghi, assistant professor and extension nutrition and foods specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said that after the allergy develops, people may have reactions after eating mammalian meat, such as beef, pork or lamb, or after exposure to some mammal-derived products, like dairy products or gelatin.
“One challenge is that symptoms may not happen right away and can range from mild to severe,” Araghi said. “Some people may have hives, an upset stomach or other symptoms, while others may experience serious allergic reactions. Because many Arkansans spend time outdoors, awareness and prevention of Alpha-gal are especially important.”
Araghi launched the Alpha-gal syndrome survey to learn what Arkansas adults already know about the condition, where confusion may exist and what information people most seek.
The survey is open to Arkansans ages 18 and older and takes about 10 minutes to complete. It includes questions about familiarity with Alpha-gal syndrome, symptom awareness, where people have learned about the allergy and optional questions about community exposure to Alpha-gal and how it may affect food choices and daily life.
“Extension’s role is to provide practical, research-based education that meets real community needs,” Araghi said. “This survey helps us avoid guessing and instead create educational materials that are relevant, understandable and useful for families, communities and local professionals.”
Survey responses will also help identify how people prefer to receive information about Alpha-gal, such as through in-person programs, webinars, videos or self-paced learning.
“I encourage Arkansas adults to take the survey because their input will directly shape future education efforts in the state,” Araghi said. “Even if someone has never heard of Alpha-gal syndrome, that is valuable information for us to know.”
The survey is available at bit.ly/ces-alpha-gal-survey. Contact Lida Araghi at [email protected] for more information.
For more information about healthy living, visit the Health in Arkansas page on the Cooperative Extension Service website.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
