Alpha-gal is on the rise. Here is what the latest reporting shows, and how Fyrn can help

Alpha-gal syndrome is not a fringe story anymore. The CDC now estimates that as many as 450,000 people in the United States may have been affected, and more than 110,000 suspected cases were identified between 2010 and 2022. Cases are not nationally reportable, so officials believe the true number is higher.  

The national trend line keeps climbing. In 2023, CDC researchers reported year-over-year growth in positive alpha-gal tests from 2017 through 2021, adding about fifteen thousand new suspected cases each year during that window.  

Reporters across the country are picking up the same signal. The Washington Post highlighted how alpha-gal is bigger than a “red meat allergy,” since mammal-derived ingredients like gelatin in medications and dental products can trigger reactions for some patients. That means risk goes beyond burgers and reaches into everyday health care.  

Regional coverage echoes the spread. Indiana stations have warned residents that lone star ticks are pushing alpha-gal into the Midwest, with human interest stories showing how one bite changed a Hoosier’s diet overnight. Texas outlets are tracking a similar rise, noting that other tick species may also be implicated and that symptoms can hit hours after eating.   

Researchers are also mapping why this is happening. New analyses connect the expanding range and longer active seasons of ticks with warmer conditions, deer populations, and suburban growth. Public-health roundups this summer describe record tick pressure in the Northeast and call out alpha-gal alongside other tick-borne threats. Academic and public-health briefings have also flagged evidence that additional tick species may transmit alpha-gal, which helps explain case hotspots outside the lone star tick’s historic core.   

Bottom line, awareness is still playing catch-up. CDC continues to note limited provider familiarity and urges clinicians to think of alpha-gal when patients report delayed reactions after eating mammalian foods. That gap in awareness is one reason so many people go years without a clear diagnosis.  

Where Fyrn fits in

If you live with alpha-gal, you already know food is only part of the story. Hidden mammal-derived ingredients can show up in soaps, lotions, balms, hair care, and lip products. That is why we created Fyrn, our mammal-free, alpha-gal-aware skin and body care line. Every formula is designed to avoid mammalian inputs, so you are not guessing at the label or holding your breath after a shower. We keep ingredient decks short, plant-forward, and transparent, and we continually monitor emerging science and supplier documentation as the landscape evolves. The goal is simple. Fewer surprises, more peace of mind.

If you are newly diagnosed or still searching for answers, start by reducing tick exposure, learn the common hidden mammalian ingredients to watch for, and tighten up personal care to products you trust. Then talk with your clinician about testing and an action plan tailored to you. For daily skin and hair routines, Fyrn™ gives you a clean, mammal-free baseline you can build on while you navigate the rest.