Surilda, what a shame! I did a quick search online and am wondering if you're having some kind of allergic reaction. Sometimes these things build up on us, all of a sudden. Check out "Oral Allergy Syndrome."

Do you have any of these same symptoms when you eat other foods? Do you have ulcers or white splotches on your tongue? You might have something "going on" in your mouth of which you're not aware.

It sounds like your entire canning process was right on-the-mark, unless you used a pan that "had problems". Aluminum? Enamelware with chips in it that caused the metal to be exposed?

It just doesn't make sense, does it? I hope someone else has some suggestions.

Good luck,
Kathy

Did you use any type of anti-darkening agent, such as Fruit Fresh?

Now that IS a strange problem. The only problem I can see with a non-aluminum pan is a metallic taste, it shouldn't cause this kind of problem.

I'm leaning toward the additive issue, like Lizzy, or some type of food sensitivity.

Annie

My water bath canner was bought new last year and it
is in very good condition. I have only used it for
canning and nothing else.

I didn't use fruit fresh. I did put my cut pieces
of pear in cold water with some lemon juice in it,
as I worked, but I did that last year too.

I cooked my pears with the suar water in a pressure
cooker pan (no lid). This was the only thing
different from last year. More room to work with
the larger pan.

No allergies or problems like this before, and
there wasn't a problem eating them before they were
canned.

I'm thinking about opening another jar and seeing
if the same thing happens.

As we get older we can develop allergies or sensitivities. There's a cumulative effect over a lifetime.

Honestly, I can't think of anything other than that which might explain what's happening. The only other possibility is an external factor such as chemotherapy or some health condition whch is causing a reaction.

Pears just do not present the sort of risk you might find in beans, or corn or other low-acid foods and I don't see any "smoking gun" in what you describe.

If your daughter feels comfortable with it, she might try a tiny taste on her tongue to see if she has a similar sensation. That at least narrows the possibilities.

Carol

Surilda, my husband and I just ate the first of our homegrown pears. Peeled it; rinsed it; and ate it. I noticed a "funny feeling" on my tongue (my husband Ken didn't), but it subsided within a minute or two. I will continue eating our pears, however!

When I was researching (like I did before I wrote you previously) I read about an allergic reaction with fruit from certain trees. I quote here:

"So, what does this have to do with fruits and oral itching and burning? Well, many fruits contain proteins that are structurally similar to protein antigens found in pollens, particularly birch tree pollen, but also other trees and ragweed. The list of fruits is long, but includes apple, pear, cantaloupe, banana and kiwi. So when a pollen allergic person eats a fruit with a structurally similar protein, they may experience intense itching and burning of the lips, mouth and throat. Occasionally, there is mild swelling as well."

Maybe this information will be helpful.

Kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: Asthma and Allergy Associates of Middle Tennessee

If you used an aluminum pan it could do it, I think. Is your pressure cooker aluminum ? Do you mean cooker or canner ? All canners are aluminum. There can't be any food borne things with the fruit other than mold or fermentation.

I would like to thank all of you for taking the time
to respond to my post.

I guess I may have an allergy to the pears as eating
them did not make me feel ill or snything, and with
that awesome taste, they were ok.

I will ask someone else to try a small piece.
Although I may be allergic now to pears, I don't
want my Grandson to be deprived of them, so I would
like to be sure that the pears just affected ME.

My daughter and grandson were grocery shopping
the other day and she asked him if he wanted
some pears. He said, "NO, Grandma is canning
pears". :>)

Thanks again,
Surilda

I just wanted to come back to let you know that my
family tried the pears today and none of them had
a problem! :>) I am so relieved and happy about
that!

Kathy, I read about the birch tree pollen and reactions
from it, except that I never had any itching or swelling.
Just the burning. It is a very real possibility though
that this is what I have developed. However, I will
try the pears again later and see if I have the reaction
again. I love them too much to give them up without
a fight! :Thanks to each of you for your help and suggestions!

surilda, I'm glad the pears can be enjoyed by your family and I'm hoping your reaction to them was an anomaly that won't be repeated.

Annie

I don't know what causes it, but I sometimes have the same thing happen, not only with preserved fruit, but fresh fruit. I'm trying to remember what I ate last week, and my mouth burnt for several minutes. I know it wasn't citrus, but some mild fruit and I was also worried about what I did to it to have that happen. I can't even remember what it was, but the sensation was strong enough that it made me notice and wonder. I ate some more of it as a midnight snack and it didn't happen that time.

surilda, I just came back from some time away and read this thread---I'm so sorry you had that unhappy experience!

But very glad that at least your family can have the pears; I hope you can come back to them, too, but I do know that sometimes giving somethign away is the best part.

I especially am sympathetic because the last thing I did before I left town was can some pears --- they were still sitting on my counter when I got back today! They were the last of the season from our favourite local orchard.

Smaller than usual with the cool, rainy summer, which made for a lot of peeling, but then I was able to can them in halves (usually I do quarters or chunks), which look very pretty! The Flemish Beauties, which are my usual favourite, had a bad year --- the skins were spotted from a fungus so the farmer didn't have them for sale, though she gave me a little basket free to use for jam. What I got were a bunch of lovely little d'Anjou pears, which was kind of special since d'Anjou is my family name.

Anyway, please keep us posted on how your battle with the pears goes! I sure hope you are able to enjoy them in the future.

Z