Can You Eat Seeds if You're Allergic to Tree Nuts?

Can you eat seeds when you’re following atree nut-free diet? Many people with nut allergies wonder if they can enjoy sunflower, poppy,pumpkin, and sesame seeds.

These seeds come from plant families that are not closely related to nut-producing trees. That means they may not have the same allergenic proteins thattree nutshave.

However, seed allergies can happen. It’s also possible to be allergic to nuts and seeds. As with other allergies, people can have serious reactions to seeds.

This article will go over what you need to know about including seeds in your diet if you have a tree nut allergy. However, your provider orallergistis the best source for advice on whether seeds can be part of your diet, especially if you have other food allergies.

How Do You Know If You Have Allergies?

Seed Allergies Are Rare

While it is not common, you can be allergic to both tree nuts and seeds. There are different kinds of seeds that you can be allergic to. Some are more likely to cause allergic reactions than others.

Sesame Seeds

It’s estimated that only 0.1% of the global population has asesame seed allergy.It might not be common, but a sesame allergy can still be serious. Some people may have alife-threatening allergic reactioncalledanaphylaxis.

Sesame seeds are becoming a common allergy in countries where a lot of people eat sesame-containing foods. For example, sesame seed allergies are popping up in Israel and Australia wheretahini pasteis popular.

What Is an Allergen?

Poppy Seeds

Poppy seeds can cause severe allergic reactions. Your risk is higher if you are allergic to tree nuts (especiallyhazelnuts) orpollen.

There are no sure estimates of how many people are allergic to poppy seeds. However, it’s thought to be rarer than a sesame seed allergy.

Living with Food Allergies

Sunflower Seeds

There have been few reports of an allergy tosunflower seeds, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential to be severe. Some reports have included anaphylactic reactions. Overall, sunflower seed allergy appears to be rare.

Pumpkin Seeds

It’s possible to be allergic topumpkin seeds, but it’s extremely rare.

RecapOverall, seed allergies are rare. Allergies to certain seeds are more common in some parts of the world where people eat a lot of them.

Recap

Overall, seed allergies are rare. Allergies to certain seeds are more common in some parts of the world where people eat a lot of them.

Pollen on Seeds

A study that looked at allergic reactions to seeds reported from 1930 through 2016 found that some reactions people had were not actually from the seeds themselves.

In a handful of cases, allergists figured out that it was the mold or pollen on the seeds that had caused an allergic reaction. For example, some people breathed inmoldfrom contaminated seeds.

The researchers also found that some sunflower seeds contained pollen from the flower, which could have triggered an allergic response.

RecapEven if you are not allergic to seeds, they can still have allergens on them that could cause a reaction. For example, people allergic to pollen or mold can have a reaction to seeds if these substances are on them.

Even if you are not allergic to seeds, they can still have allergens on them that could cause a reaction. For example, people allergic to pollen or mold can have a reaction to seeds if these substances are on them.

How to Get Tested for Allergies

Cross-Contamination

Even if you are not allergic to seeds, they may have been exposed to allergens that would cause you to have a reaction. That’s why it’s important to be aware of what’s called cross-contamination in processing.

How to Avoid Cross-Contamination If You Have Food Allergies

For example, some companies that make sunflower seed butter also make nut butter or peanut butter. Even though the sunflower seed butter does not contain nuts, it could have come into contact with nuts while it was being made.

If you have a severe tree nut orpeanut allergy, seed-based products made in facilities that also make nut products can create risk for reaction.

If you are not sure if a product is safe for you, consider contacting the company that makes it. You can ask them if any nut products are made in the same facility or with the same equipment.

RecapIf you are looking for nut-free products, remember that cross-contamination in processing can happen. Sometimes, products like sunflower seed butter that don’t have nuts in them were made in the same facility as nut products like peanut butter.

If you are looking for nut-free products, remember that cross-contamination in processing can happen. Sometimes, products like sunflower seed butter that don’t have nuts in them were made in the same facility as nut products like peanut butter.

Summary

Many people who are allergic to tree nuts enjoy seeds as an alternative. Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and poppy seeds can add nutrition and variety to a nut-free diet.

However, it’s possible to be allergic to tree nuts and seeds. While seed allergies are rare, they do happen. As with other allergies, they can also be serious.

What Do Some People Have Food Allergies?

A Word From Verywell

While they are not very common, reports of seed allergies are rising. Sesame seed allergies are becoming more common.

One reason we might be seeing more cases of seed allergies is that seeds and seed products (like oils) are popular ingredients in dishes around the world. As more people are enjoying seeds and including them in their diets, we’ll probably see more reported cases of allergies.

More research is needed to understand seed allergies on a global scale, but you can talk to your provider about what’s best for you. If you have other allergies—even non-food allergies—ask them if seeds are a safe choice for you.

When you’re shopping for nut-free products, don’t hesitate to reach out to a company and ask how their products are made to ensure there’s no cross-contamination.

The Most Common Food Allergies

3 SourcesVerywell 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.Adatia A, Clarke AE, Yanishevsky Y, Ben-shoshan M.Sesame allergy: Current perspectives.J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:141-151. doi:10.2147/JAA.S113612Canadian Food Inspection Agency.Before you shop: Food allergies and allergen labelling.Patel A, Bahna SL.Hypersensitivities to sesame and other common edible seeds.Allergy. 2016;71(10):1405-13. doi:10.1111/all.12962Additional ReadingHsu DC, Katelaris CH.Is “nut-free” sunflower seed butter safe for children with peanut allergy?Med J Aust. 2007;187(9):542-3.

3 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.Adatia A, Clarke AE, Yanishevsky Y, Ben-shoshan M.Sesame allergy: Current perspectives.J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:141-151. doi:10.2147/JAA.S113612Canadian Food Inspection Agency.Before you shop: Food allergies and allergen labelling.Patel A, Bahna SL.Hypersensitivities to sesame and other common edible seeds.Allergy. 2016;71(10):1405-13. doi:10.1111/all.12962Additional ReadingHsu DC, Katelaris CH.Is “nut-free” sunflower seed butter safe for children with peanut allergy?Med J Aust. 2007;187(9):542-3.

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.

Adatia A, Clarke AE, Yanishevsky Y, Ben-shoshan M.Sesame allergy: Current perspectives.J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:141-151. doi:10.2147/JAA.S113612Canadian Food Inspection Agency.Before you shop: Food allergies and allergen labelling.Patel A, Bahna SL.Hypersensitivities to sesame and other common edible seeds.Allergy. 2016;71(10):1405-13. doi:10.1111/all.12962

Adatia A, Clarke AE, Yanishevsky Y, Ben-shoshan M.Sesame allergy: Current perspectives.J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:141-151. doi:10.2147/JAA.S113612

Canadian Food Inspection Agency.Before you shop: Food allergies and allergen labelling.

Patel A, Bahna SL.Hypersensitivities to sesame and other common edible seeds.Allergy. 2016;71(10):1405-13. doi:10.1111/all.12962

Hsu DC, Katelaris CH.Is “nut-free” sunflower seed butter safe for children with peanut allergy?Med J Aust. 2007;187(9):542-3.

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