Dr Pamela Ewan, an allergy consultant at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, said the rise in cases appears to be outstripping even peanut allergies.
Dr Ewan, who sees more than 8,000 people with allergies a year, said most patients with reactions to fruit and vegetables were youngsters.
Symptoms include swelling in the mouth and throat, and breathing difficulties.
She said: "We have seen a big rise in the number of cases in the past four to five years.
"It is a bit like the peanut allergy was the epidemic of the 1990s. I think fruit and vegetables are becoming the epidemic now.
"In term of numbers, fruit and vegetables are the new form of peanut allergy."
Other specialist centres in the UK have confirmed to the BBC that allergies to fruit and vegetables is a growing problem.
Dr Adam Fox, a consultant paediatric allergist at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London, said: "We are certainly seeing lots of oral allergy syndrome.
"This affects people who are actually allergic to pollen - such as birch pollen.
"There is a cross-reactivity between the protein in that pollen with those in fruit and vegetables, so people start getting a reaction to fruits such as apples and pears. The chance of cross-reactions with fruits increases with the larger number of types of fruit to which we are exposed."
Bonnie - this should not come as a surprise. As temperatures rise around the globe, pollen in the air becomes more profuse. Thus, those allergic have more severe symptoms (especially if consuming cross-reactors). Right before and during the height of the spring and fall allergy seasons, one must be extra vigilant about avoiding fruit, vegetable, and grain cross-reactors. Refer to my Spring Allergy To-Do List.
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