Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWith Food AllergyWithout Food AllergyFood Odor ReactionCross-ReactionsOther CausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
With Food Allergy
Without Food Allergy
Food Odor Reaction
Cross-Reactions
Other Causes
Treatment
Afood allergyis when you have a reaction to a particular food after eating it. However, it is possible to be allergic simply to the smell of a food, too. In some cases, you may be reacting to the fact that you may have inhaled small particles of the food, while in others, the smell may trigger a reaction based on the way your brain processes that odor. This guide delves deep into different scenarios to help you learn more about how the smell of certain foods may affect you.
Verywell / Zorica Lakonic
Allergy to Inhaled Food Particles When You Have a Food Allergy
While it is not common, and it’s usually found only in those whose allergies are severe and highly sensitive, an allergic reaction to inhaling small particles (or vapors) of food from the air is possible. In fact, this is an increasingly recognized problem in children. If you’ve ever been on a plane and you’ve heard an announcement not to open any packages ofpeanuts, that’s why.
The most commonly reported type of this reaction is when people with a seafood allergy inhale odors from cookingfishand shellfish. Other foods that can release particles into the air when cooked and may induce allergic reactions include wheat, peanuts, milk, and eggs.
Most people with food allergies don’t—and shouldn’t—worry about food allergens floating in the air that could cause them to have an allergic reaction. Still, it’s probably best for people with severeshellfish allergyto avoid seafood restaurants altogether, rather than to go and order chicken.
Allergy to Inhaled Food When You Don’t Have a Food Allergy
Typical symptoms of an airborne allergy to food particles often include runny, watery eyes, coughing, wheezing, and asthma. Ananaphylactic reactionis serious and less common but can occur.
It’s important to note that kitchens and restaurants aren’t the only places where this type of allergic reaction can occur. This can be a problem for some workers who handle food products (such as bakers or coffee bean roasters), or those who work with food additives. These people have an increased risk of developing occupational asthma.
Most exposures occur through the inhalation of dust, steam, vapors, and airborne proteins that are produced in the process of cutting, cleaning, boiling, or drying foods.
Reaction to Food Odor Alone (Without Particle Inhalation)
If someone has an allergy—especially a severe food allergy—and smells that particular food being cooked, their brain may immediately register a warning. The subsequent anxiety could, in turn, lead to physical symptoms such as an increased heart rate.
Anxiety can cause the release of stress hormones and adrenaline in a “fight-or-flight response.” Sometimes these reactions can be very intense, and they can be mistaken for an allergic reaction.
When in doubt, it is crucial to assume someone may be having an allergic reaction and pursue emergent medical care as needed, rather than to think their reaction is related to anxiety and miss treating life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Cross-Reactions Between Food Allergens and Inhaled Allergens
A different scenario exists in which allergies to inhaled antigens (such as birch pollen) cross-react with antigens in food (such as apple proteins.) This particular reaction, birch-apple, is an example of an oral allergy syndrome.
Oral allergy syndrome has been noted between several airborne allergens and food allergies. Some of these include ragweed and watermelon, grasses and potato, and mugwort and carrots.
Apple Allergy Frequency, Symptoms, and Foods to Avoid
Other Causes of Reactions
Beyond eating and inhaling food particles, it’s important to note that allergic reactions may also occur in response to skin or mucous membrane contact with even a small amount of an allergen.
It’s also worth pointing out that if you’re pregnant, your sense of smell is heightened and you may experience aversions to certain foods or food smells (especially during the first trimester). Avoiding particular foods in pregnancy is generally considered to be common and normal, provided that you’re still able to eat a variety of other nutritious foods.
How to Handle Allergic Disease
Unfortunately, allergic disease is increasing. If you suffer from any allergies such as these, make sure to see an allergist. It is important to know what your options are for either avoidance and/or treatment of your symptoms. It’s even more important to know whether or not you should have anEpi-Penavailable in case of an anaphylactic reaction.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cartier A.The role of inhalant food allergens in occupational asthma.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2010;10(5):349-56. doi:10.1007/s11882-010-0130-2
Werfel T, Asero R, Ballmer-weber BK, et al.Position paper of the EAACI: food allergy due to immunological cross-reactions with common inhalant allergens.Allergy. 2015;70(9):1079-90. doi:10.1111/all.12666
Cameron EL.Pregnancy and olfaction: a review.Front Psychol. 2014;5:67. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00067
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
