For most people, eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables is the cornerstone of a healthy diet.

But for people with hereditary fructose intolerance, even a couple of bites of juicy watermelon or some sun-dried tomatoes in a salad can cause serious health problems.

This rare condition isn’t a food allergy or sensitivity.

But it can lead to serious health problems if not identified and correctly managed.

Hereditary fructose intolerance is a rare genetic condition that affects how the body manages the sugar fructose.

Fructose isn’t just in fruit. It’s in honey, some vegetables, sweetened drinks, and many packaged foods, such as cakes, cookies, sauces and some breads. Fructose can also be added during the processing of some meats (deli meats and sausages) and dairy products (chocolate milk).

Sucrose (table sugar) and sorbitol (a sugar substitute often in chewing gum, toothpaste and medications) also contain fructose or are converted into fructose during digestion. This means people with hereditary fructose intolerance are also intolerant to these sugars.

People with the condition don’t have the key enzyme aldolase B needed to break down fructose.

This means fructose builds up in the liver, kidneys and intestines. This excess fructose can cause serious health problems, such as seizures, coma and, in some cases, death from liver and kidney failure.

Hereditary fructose intolerance is passed down to a person........

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