Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAbout Nut AllergiesNut vs. Spice AllergiesCommon Spice AllergiesOther Foods to AvoidFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
About Nut Allergies
Nut vs. Spice Allergies
Common Spice Allergies
Other Foods to Avoid
FAQs
Atree nut allergyoccurs when a person cannot eat a certain type of nut because theirimmune systemdeems certain proteins found within it as harmful. This causes a reaction that can come with mild to severe symptoms. As much as 3% of the world’s population has a nut allergy.
When a person is allergic to a specific nut, certain other foods can set off a reaction because of cross-reactivity. Cross-reactivity is when certain proteins in the food a person is allergic to are similar to proteins in other foods.
This article discusses the symptoms of a nut allergic reaction and spices to avoid due to cross-reactivity.
BURCU ATALAY TANKUT / Getty Images
Types of Nut Allergies
There are various types of tree nuts that people can be allergic to. These include:
Peanuts and Tree Nut AllergiesAlthough many people are allergic topeanuts, they are actually not tree nuts. Peanuts grow in the ground, which makes them a legume. That said, people who are allergic to tree nuts may also be allergic to peanuts because peanuts and tree nuts contain similar proteins.
Peanuts and Tree Nut Allergies
Although many people are allergic topeanuts, they are actually not tree nuts. Peanuts grow in the ground, which makes them a legume. That said, people who are allergic to tree nuts may also be allergic to peanuts because peanuts and tree nuts contain similar proteins.
Nut Allergy Symptoms
When the body reacts to anallergen, which is the substance that causes an allergic reaction, it releaseshistamines. Histamines are compounds that cause symptoms to develop. These allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Common allergy symptoms found in those allergic to tree nuts include:
Severe Allergic Reaction SymptomsA severe allergic reaction is known asanaphylaxis. Although some anaphylaxis symptoms are similar or the same as those mentioned above, the trademark symptoms of anaphylaxis are:Flushing of the skinAirways that are tight or completely closedConfusionNausea, vomiting,diarrhea, and abdominal painFeeling light-headed or dizzyFear that you are about to dieTightness in the chestLosing consciousness or faintingLow blood pressureShortness of breathA contraction or spasm of the airways
Severe Allergic Reaction Symptoms
A severe allergic reaction is known asanaphylaxis. Although some anaphylaxis symptoms are similar or the same as those mentioned above, the trademark symptoms of anaphylaxis are:Flushing of the skinAirways that are tight or completely closedConfusionNausea, vomiting,diarrhea, and abdominal painFeeling light-headed or dizzyFear that you are about to dieTightness in the chestLosing consciousness or faintingLow blood pressureShortness of breathA contraction or spasm of the airways
A severe allergic reaction is known asanaphylaxis. Although some anaphylaxis symptoms are similar or the same as those mentioned above, the trademark symptoms of anaphylaxis are:
The Most Common Food Allergies
Can a Nut Allergy Cause Spice Allergy?
There are several ways that a nut allergy can contribute to a spice allergy either directly or indirectly. Chief among these are processes called cross-reactivity and cross-contamination.
Cross-Reactivity
When a person is allergic to a nut, they are allergic to a specific protein found in the nut and will react when exposed to that protein. If that protein is found in a spice, it can also cause a reaction. This is known ascross-reactivity.
Examples of cross-reactivity between specific spices and nuts include:
In cases like these, a protein found in both the spice and the nut is theallergen(allergy-causing substance). An example of this is a protein calledprolaminfound in many allergy-triggering foods, including almonds and wheat.
Cross-Contamination
Cross-contaminationrefers to practices in which one food accidentally finds its way into another food it should not be in. This usually occurs when commercial kitchens don’t segregate containers, counters, machines, or equipment used to prepare or store nuts. It can also happen when food manufacturing facilities make multiple products, including those containing nuts.
With spices, cross-contamination with nuts has been reported. This was seen in 2014 when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled 675cuminproducts, including bottled spice and spice blend, after finding them cross-contaminated with tree nuts, including almonds.
While large-scale incidents like this are uncommon, it nevertheless highlights the need toread product labelsto see if a food product was manufactured in a plant that also uses tree nuts or peanuts.
This also means reading product labels to see if nuts wereintentionallyused in a product.
One example is suya spice, a Nigerian spice blend used to marinate meat that is gaining popularity in the United States. What many people don’t realize is that suya spice is comprised of peanut powder, paprika, ground ginger, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt.
Another example is dukkah, a popular seasoning from Egypt used for Middle Eastern cooking. Dukkah is typically made with ground hazelnuts, sesame seeds, cumin, coriander, sumac, cinnamon, and salt. Other variations are made with pistachio or almonds.
How to Tell If You Have a Spice Allergy
Spice allergies are rare. Roughly four to 13 people per 10,000 adults have an allergy to spices.Some of the most common spices people are allergic to are:
There is a high cross-reactivity among spices. Therefore, it’s likely that if you’re allergic to one spice, you’re likely allergic to others as well.
Since cross-reactivity is high for nuts, you may have to avoid other foods that could set off an allergic reaction as well. If you are allergic to one tree nut, you should avoid all tree nuts unless you know it is safe to eat a certain kind.
For example, if you are allergic to pecans, there is a good chance you are also allergic to walnuts because they have a high level of cross-reactivity. The same goes if you’re allergic to pistachios or cashews.
You should also avoid prepackaged products that don’t list all the ingredients used or have a notice stating that they may contain tree nuts, as you can’t be sure which tree nut will be found in the product.
Tree Nut Allergy Diet Guide
Summary
Tree nut allergies are difficult to cope with because they are often used in many types of foods and spices. Specific spices that should be avoided if you have a tree nut allergy include cumin and spice blends. You should refrain from consuming cumin because it often uses nuts as a filler, and spice blends because they often contain cumin. It is best to read the ingredients of all spice blends to be on the safe side.
If you do consume a tree nut that you’re allergic to, you will experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, including hives, itchy or watery eyes, chest or throat tightness, and face swelling.
If you experience any symptoms of a severe allergic reaction such as confusion, gastrointestinal distress, or difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately. A severe allergic reaction can, in some cases, cause coma or even death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spices have the ability to trigger allergies. It depends on what is in them and whether or not they are mixed with anything used as a filler. For example, some spices have only the spice as an ingredient, whereas others, such as cumin, use nuts as a filler. When spices do contain an allergen, they will trigger allergies.
Not all spices contain nuts, but some might. To be sure, it’s best to check the labels of every spice you use prior to eating it. The spices that are most likely to contain nuts are cumin and spice mixes.
Contrary to its name,nutmegdoes not contain nuts. The spice is derived from a seed. That is why nutmeg is safe for people with tree nut allergies.
11 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.McWilliam VL, Perrett KP, Dang T, Peters RL.Prevalence and natural history of tree nut allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2020;124(5):466-472. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2020.01.024Nemours Kids Health.Nut and peanut allergy (for parents).American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Everything you need to know about tree nut allergy.Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.2018;14(Suppl 2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4Skypala IJ.Food-induced anaphylaxis: role of hidden allergens and cofactors.Front Immunol.2019;10:673. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00673Bastiaan-Net S, Reitsma M, Cordewener JHG.IgE cross-reactivity of cashew nut allergens.Int Arch Allergy Immunol.2019 Jan;178(1):19–32. doi:10.1159/00049Benoit L, Masiri J, Janagama H, Gendel SM, Samadpour.Case report: allergic reactivity to mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb) spice in a subject with almond and other tree nut allergies.Allergy Rhinol (Providence).2020 Jan-Dec;11:2152656720959083. doi:10.1177/2152656720959083Dubiela P, Humeniuk P, Bublin M.Two patients with allergy to celery — possible role of carbohydrate determinants and difference between seeds and tuber allergenicity.World Allergy Organ J.2022 Nov;15(11):100708. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100708Garber EA, Parker CH, Handy SM, et al.Presence of undeclared food allergens in cumin: the need for multiplex methods.J Agric Food Chem.2016;64(5):1202-1211. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05497Chen JL, Bahna SL.Spice allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2011;107(3):191-199. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2011.06.020Smeekens JM, Bagley K, Kulis M.Tree nut allergies: allergen homology, cross-reactivity, and implications for therapy.Clin Exp Allergy.2018;48(7):762-772. doi:10.1111/cea.13163
11 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.McWilliam VL, Perrett KP, Dang T, Peters RL.Prevalence and natural history of tree nut allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2020;124(5):466-472. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2020.01.024Nemours Kids Health.Nut and peanut allergy (for parents).American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Everything you need to know about tree nut allergy.Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.2018;14(Suppl 2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4Skypala IJ.Food-induced anaphylaxis: role of hidden allergens and cofactors.Front Immunol.2019;10:673. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00673Bastiaan-Net S, Reitsma M, Cordewener JHG.IgE cross-reactivity of cashew nut allergens.Int Arch Allergy Immunol.2019 Jan;178(1):19–32. doi:10.1159/00049Benoit L, Masiri J, Janagama H, Gendel SM, Samadpour.Case report: allergic reactivity to mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb) spice in a subject with almond and other tree nut allergies.Allergy Rhinol (Providence).2020 Jan-Dec;11:2152656720959083. doi:10.1177/2152656720959083Dubiela P, Humeniuk P, Bublin M.Two patients with allergy to celery — possible role of carbohydrate determinants and difference between seeds and tuber allergenicity.World Allergy Organ J.2022 Nov;15(11):100708. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100708Garber EA, Parker CH, Handy SM, et al.Presence of undeclared food allergens in cumin: the need for multiplex methods.J Agric Food Chem.2016;64(5):1202-1211. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05497Chen JL, Bahna SL.Spice allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2011;107(3):191-199. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2011.06.020Smeekens JM, Bagley K, Kulis M.Tree nut allergies: allergen homology, cross-reactivity, and implications for therapy.Clin Exp Allergy.2018;48(7):762-772. doi:10.1111/cea.13163
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.
McWilliam VL, Perrett KP, Dang T, Peters RL.Prevalence and natural history of tree nut allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2020;124(5):466-472. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2020.01.024Nemours Kids Health.Nut and peanut allergy (for parents).American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Everything you need to know about tree nut allergy.Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.2018;14(Suppl 2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4Skypala IJ.Food-induced anaphylaxis: role of hidden allergens and cofactors.Front Immunol.2019;10:673. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00673Bastiaan-Net S, Reitsma M, Cordewener JHG.IgE cross-reactivity of cashew nut allergens.Int Arch Allergy Immunol.2019 Jan;178(1):19–32. doi:10.1159/00049Benoit L, Masiri J, Janagama H, Gendel SM, Samadpour.Case report: allergic reactivity to mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb) spice in a subject with almond and other tree nut allergies.Allergy Rhinol (Providence).2020 Jan-Dec;11:2152656720959083. doi:10.1177/2152656720959083Dubiela P, Humeniuk P, Bublin M.Two patients with allergy to celery — possible role of carbohydrate determinants and difference between seeds and tuber allergenicity.World Allergy Organ J.2022 Nov;15(11):100708. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100708Garber EA, Parker CH, Handy SM, et al.Presence of undeclared food allergens in cumin: the need for multiplex methods.J Agric Food Chem.2016;64(5):1202-1211. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05497Chen JL, Bahna SL.Spice allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2011;107(3):191-199. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2011.06.020Smeekens JM, Bagley K, Kulis M.Tree nut allergies: allergen homology, cross-reactivity, and implications for therapy.Clin Exp Allergy.2018;48(7):762-772. doi:10.1111/cea.13163
McWilliam VL, Perrett KP, Dang T, Peters RL.Prevalence and natural history of tree nut allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2020;124(5):466-472. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2020.01.024
Nemours Kids Health.Nut and peanut allergy (for parents).
American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Everything you need to know about tree nut allergy.
Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.2018;14(Suppl 2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4
Skypala IJ.Food-induced anaphylaxis: role of hidden allergens and cofactors.Front Immunol.2019;10:673. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00673
Bastiaan-Net S, Reitsma M, Cordewener JHG.IgE cross-reactivity of cashew nut allergens.Int Arch Allergy Immunol.2019 Jan;178(1):19–32. doi:10.1159/00049
Benoit L, Masiri J, Janagama H, Gendel SM, Samadpour.Case report: allergic reactivity to mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb) spice in a subject with almond and other tree nut allergies.Allergy Rhinol (Providence).2020 Jan-Dec;11:2152656720959083. doi:10.1177/2152656720959083
Dubiela P, Humeniuk P, Bublin M.Two patients with allergy to celery — possible role of carbohydrate determinants and difference between seeds and tuber allergenicity.World Allergy Organ J.2022 Nov;15(11):100708. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100708
Garber EA, Parker CH, Handy SM, et al.Presence of undeclared food allergens in cumin: the need for multiplex methods.J Agric Food Chem.2016;64(5):1202-1211. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05497
Chen JL, Bahna SL.Spice allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2011;107(3):191-199. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2011.06.020
Smeekens JM, Bagley K, Kulis M.Tree nut allergies: allergen homology, cross-reactivity, and implications for therapy.Clin Exp Allergy.2018;48(7):762-772. doi:10.1111/cea.13163
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?
