Dec. 5, 2025

Alpha-Gal, The Meat Allergy That Starts With One Tick | 12/5/25

Alpha-Gal, The Meat Allergy That Starts With One Tick  |  12/5/25

It starts with hives, panic, ER visits, and confusion. Then the truth hits. One Lone Star tick has rewritten guest Kerry Toms’ immune system and turned everyday foods into a threat.

Alpha-Gal Syndrome begins with a single bite and ends with a shocking reality. Beef, pork, dairy, and gelatin suddenly trigger violent reactions. In this At The Mic Thursday Deep Dive, Keith Malinak sits down with Kerry Toms to uncover years of misdiagnosis, fear, and the moment she learned that one tick had changed everything.

Keith expands the story to the larger questions, the spread of the Lone Star tick, unusual research programs, and the rising concern over what is driving this hidden allergy. If you have unexplained reactions after meals or symptoms that no doctor has been able to solve, this episode may finally connect the dots.

Stay through the end for practical insights, ingredient warnings that catch people off guard, and a real look at life with Alpha-Gal Syndrome.


Chapters

  • 00:35 Alpha-Gal, the meat allergy no one sees coming
  • 02:54 Kerry’s story, misdiagnosis, panic and finally an answer
  • 11:28 Living in fear of food, the daily cost of Alpha-Gal
  • 19:06 Why your body reacts hours later, the science behind the shock
  • 27:21 The Lone Star tick, its spread, and why cases keep rising
  • 34:55 Doctors still miss it, the mental toll of being “allergic to existing”
  • 42:32 Tick experiments, strange programs and engineered insects
  • 50:18 Government labs, military research and long unanswered questions
  • 58:19 Can we prevent this, and what Alpha-Gal means for public health


If this episode helped you finally make sense of symptoms, subscribe so you never miss a Deep Dive with Keith Malinak.

Do you know someone reacting to foods without explanation? Share this with them.


Produced by 2nd Floor Studios



Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/at-the-mic-with-keith-malinak2022/donations