Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a tick-borne meat allergy caused by the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) injecting alpha-gal sugar into the blood, triggering IgE-mediated reactions to red meat like beef, pork, and lamb. Symptoms—hives, itching, swelling, nausea, or anaphylaxis—appear 2–6 hours after eating, often mimicking IBS. Not everyone develops it; risk rises with repeated bites, […]