@CapitalB — I understand your skepticism! I only believe it’s “real” from personal experience. I got very ill, figured it might be from my diet but couldn’t figure out a pattern, had a bunch of testing, and the only thing abnormal was a high alpha-gal antibody count.
So I quit eating all mammal food, and immediately began feeling better. I also avoid airborne exposures (smoke, steam).
I still wonder if alpha-gal is the whole explanation, but knowing about it has put me on a healthier track.