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Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
If you’ve ever gotten an itchy mouth or a stomachache after eating a tomato, you may wonder if you have a tomato allergy. While it is possible to be allergic totomatoesand other members of thenightshade family(like potatoes and bell peppers), it’s not common.
Research on tomato allergies is sparse, but one study estimated that true tomato allergies occur in about 1.5% of Northern Europeans. It is a bit more common in people from Italy (about 16% of the population).
Verywell / Zorica Lakonic
Types of Tomato Allergies
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)
People who are allergic to grass pollen can have an OAS reaction to tomatoes, peaches, celery,melons, or potatoes.
OAS is more common in adults and teens. Young children are usually not affected because it usually takes years for a cross-reaction to occur fromseasonal allergies.
Food Intolderance
Sometimes, a person has symptoms related to food but it is not a true allergy. For example, a person with sensitive skin might get irritation from the acidity of a tomato, but that does not mean that they’re allergic to tomatoes. This kind of reaction is sometimes called a food intolerance.
Is it possible to be allergic to tomatoes but not ketchup?For some people with pollen food allergy syndrome (also referred to as PFAS or OAS), highly processed tomato products, including ketchup, may not cause a reaction. Persons with this type of allergy may not need to avoid ketchup.
Is it possible to be allergic to tomatoes but not ketchup?
For some people with pollen food allergy syndrome (also referred to as PFAS or OAS), highly processed tomato products, including ketchup, may not cause a reaction. Persons with this type of allergy may not need to avoid ketchup.
Tomato Allergy Symptoms
True tomato allergies affect the skin, sinuses, eyes, and airways. In rare cases, they can cause a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.
True tomato allergy symptoms can include:
OAS symptoms tend to be a milder form of food allergy. The reactions tend to be brief (a few seconds or minutes) and include:
OAS symptoms are more likely to occur when the seasonal pollen count is high. Though rare, OAS can also cause anaphylaxis.
When to Seek Emergency CareAnaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction where the throat and airways swell up.Seek medical care right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:Trouble breathingFacial swellingConfusionDizzinessFainting
When to Seek Emergency Care
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction where the throat and airways swell up.Seek medical care right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:Trouble breathingFacial swellingConfusionDizzinessFainting
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction where the throat and airways swell up.
Seek medical care right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Causes of Tomato Allergy
Pollen allergiesare seasonal. The body responds stronger with each passing season. Over time, the immune system can start to react to substances with similar proteins, such as fruits, vegetables, spices, or nuts."
Will cooked tomatoes cause an allergic reaction?Maybe, maybe not. In a tomato allergy or OAS, the immune system typically reacts to the profilins in raw tomatoes. Cooking or baking the fruit may break down these proteins and render them harmless.However, if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to tomatoes, you may not want to risk it.
Will cooked tomatoes cause an allergic reaction?
Maybe, maybe not. In a tomato allergy or OAS, the immune system typically reacts to the profilins in raw tomatoes. Cooking or baking the fruit may break down these proteins and render them harmless.However, if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to tomatoes, you may not want to risk it.
Maybe, maybe not. In a tomato allergy or OAS, the immune system typically reacts to the profilins in raw tomatoes. Cooking or baking the fruit may break down these proteins and render them harmless.
However, if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to tomatoes, you may not want to risk it.
How Do You Know if You Are Allergic to Tomatoes?
Getting diagnosed with a true tomato allergy or OAS related to tomatoes involves working with your provider and anallergist. An allergist can identify the specific allergens you are sensitive to. There are a variety ofallergy teststhat can be used, including:
What Else Can Cause a Reaction to Tomatoes?
Some people may have reactions to tomatoes that are not actual tomato allergies.
FODMAP Intolerance
Fructans in tomatoes can cause uncomfortable digestive symptoms in people sensitive toFODMAPs. FODMAP stands for:
Several different fruits, vegetables, and grains are classified as FODMAPs. Tomatoes are alow FODMAP foodwhen eaten in small quantities. However, large servings of tomato products—like tomato sauce—can cause aninflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)-like reaction.
Nightshade Sensitivities
Some people who seem to react to tomatoes find they are actually sensitive to nightshades. Common nightshades include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, blueberries, tomatillos, and paprika.A sensitivity to nightshades can be an allergic reaction, oral allergy syndrome, or intolerance. Anightshade sensitivity or intolerancecommonly causes heartburn, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Nightshades are rumored to increase inflammation in autoimmune diseases, however, this has not been proven in human studies.
How to Treat a Tomato Allergy
The treatment for a tomato allergy, OAS, and pseudoallergies is more or less the same: Avoid tomatoes. Depending on the type of tomato allergy you have, other treatments may include:
Treatment is similar for other nightshade allergies.
Foods to Avoid if You have a Tomato AllergyIf you have a tomato allergy or intolerance, you may want to avoid eating:Raw tomatoesSauces or soups that contain pureed tomatoCanned tomatoesSun-dried tomatoes
Foods to Avoid if You have a Tomato Allergy
If you have a tomato allergy or intolerance, you may want to avoid eating:Raw tomatoesSauces or soups that contain pureed tomatoCanned tomatoesSun-dried tomatoes
If you have a tomato allergy or intolerance, you may want to avoid eating:
Summary
It’s not common, but it is possible to be allergic to tomatoes. However, most people who have symptoms when they eat a tomato probably have an intolerance to the food rather than a true allergy. Symptoms of being allergic to tomatoes may include rash, hives, swelling, congestion, sneezing, and more.
If you have other allergies, especially grass pollen allergies, you’re more likely also to have an allergic reaction to tomatoes. It’s rare, but some people with severe allergies may have anaphylaxis—a potentially life-threatening reaction.
5 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.Kurze E, Lo Scalzo R, Campanelli G, Schwab W.Effect of tomato variety, cultivation, climate and processing on Sola l 4, an allergen from Solanum lycopersicum.PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0197971. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0197971Kashyap RR, Kashyap RS.Oral allergy syndrome: An update for stomatologists.J Allergy. 2015: 2015: 543928. doi:10.1155/2015/543928Food Allergy Research and Education.Recognizing and treating reaction symptoms.Gill P, et al.Anaphylactic shock in oral allergy.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2012.12.1439Li S, Wang T, Xu B, Indukuri V, Vanamala J, Reddivari L.Anthocyanin-containing purple potatoes ameliorate dss-induced colitis in mice.Curr Dev Nutr. 2020;4(Supplement_2):426-426. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzaa045_059
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.Kurze E, Lo Scalzo R, Campanelli G, Schwab W.Effect of tomato variety, cultivation, climate and processing on Sola l 4, an allergen from Solanum lycopersicum.PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0197971. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0197971Kashyap RR, Kashyap RS.Oral allergy syndrome: An update for stomatologists.J Allergy. 2015: 2015: 543928. doi:10.1155/2015/543928Food Allergy Research and Education.Recognizing and treating reaction symptoms.Gill P, et al.Anaphylactic shock in oral allergy.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2012.12.1439Li S, Wang T, Xu B, Indukuri V, Vanamala J, Reddivari L.Anthocyanin-containing purple potatoes ameliorate dss-induced colitis in mice.Curr Dev Nutr. 2020;4(Supplement_2):426-426. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzaa045_059
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.
Kurze E, Lo Scalzo R, Campanelli G, Schwab W.Effect of tomato variety, cultivation, climate and processing on Sola l 4, an allergen from Solanum lycopersicum.PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0197971. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0197971Kashyap RR, Kashyap RS.Oral allergy syndrome: An update for stomatologists.J Allergy. 2015: 2015: 543928. doi:10.1155/2015/543928Food Allergy Research and Education.Recognizing and treating reaction symptoms.Gill P, et al.Anaphylactic shock in oral allergy.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2012.12.1439Li S, Wang T, Xu B, Indukuri V, Vanamala J, Reddivari L.Anthocyanin-containing purple potatoes ameliorate dss-induced colitis in mice.Curr Dev Nutr. 2020;4(Supplement_2):426-426. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzaa045_059
Kurze E, Lo Scalzo R, Campanelli G, Schwab W.Effect of tomato variety, cultivation, climate and processing on Sola l 4, an allergen from Solanum lycopersicum.PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0197971. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0197971
Kashyap RR, Kashyap RS.Oral allergy syndrome: An update for stomatologists.J Allergy. 2015: 2015: 543928. doi:10.1155/2015/543928
Food Allergy Research and Education.Recognizing and treating reaction symptoms.
Gill P, et al.Anaphylactic shock in oral allergy.The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2012.12.1439
Li S, Wang T, Xu B, Indukuri V, Vanamala J, Reddivari L.Anthocyanin-containing purple potatoes ameliorate dss-induced colitis in mice.Curr Dev Nutr. 2020;4(Supplement_2):426-426. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzaa045_059
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