Did you know that there are more than 160 food allergens in the world? It is shocking data since we can only see a few allergens listed on the menu and labels. However, many of unlisted ingredients can cause trouble for us with allium allergy.
The 9 food allergens that can be found on any labels or menu are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybean, and sesame.
If you want to know how allergens affect the human body, you can read here our article about allergy.
In this blog post, I would like to introduce you to allium allergy, what are exactly alliums, what is inside them to cause an allergic reaction, and what kind of symptoms allium allergy has.
I’m sure that you have been wondering what are alliums exactly. My first interaction with word alliums was in the doctor’s office after they got my allergy results.
And ever since then, whenever I have to ask a waiter in the restaurant, they were looking at me with lots of question marks around their head.
Alliums are ingredients that can be found in almost any savory meal on the planet, and the majority of people don’t know that those ingredients are alliums.
There are 7 plants in the allium family.
Finally, let me introduce those 7 riders of the allium allergy apocalypse.
- A lot of people claim that this allium is one of the healthiest plants in the world and that it’s a natural antibiotic. What’s more, some people are even drinking this allium plant in the form of a pill. Lots of recipes are using this allium, and whenever a recipe calls for spinach, you will be able to find this allium pant.
You guessed it right. It is GARLIC! - Lots of people say that this allium is the queen of the kitchen and culinary world. In fact, almost all the savory recipes mention this allium plant, and you have to dice it. You guessed it right.
It is ONION! - The next rider of the allium allergy apocalypse is the basic ingredient in French cuisine. They are using it in every savory meal. Furthermore, they claim that it has a lighter taste than onion even tho they look similar.
It is SHALLOT! - This allium is often used as a garnish on savory meals. They would sprinkle it over the meal, or mix it in the dips. In the shops, you can find this allium plant mixed with cheese spread. You guessed it right.
It is CHIVES! - This rider of the allium allergy apocalypse can be found in the Pokemon world. One of the Pokemon is always carrying it around and using it to cast the attacks. The Pokemon is Farfech. Moreover being part of the Pokemon world, this allium is used to make soups or side dishes, or it can even be eaten raw.
The fifth rider of the allium allergy apocalypse is LEEKS! - West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee are the 3 states that worship this allium. For them, it is a sign of spring, and every year they organize lots of festivals where they celebrate this allium.
Without a doubt, the main character of those festivals is RAMPS! - The last rider of the allium allergy apocalypse is a vegetable that everyone connects with Easter. This allium can be found at breakfast, lunch, or dinner in every family. Lots of people associate Easter with this allium plant.
The star of the Easter table and the last rider of the allium allergy apocalypse is SCALLION!
In other words, 7 riders of the allium allergy apocalypse and plants that are causing allium allergy are onion, garlic, shallot, chives, scallion, leeks, and ramps.
They are present in every cuisine, and almost all savory meals contain at least one of the allium. However, in our recipes, you will not find any of them!
Why are people allergic to alliums?
Alliin lyase or Alliinase is the enzyme that is present in allium plants. This enzyme is responsible for triggering the immune system, or gastric system to think that there is some danger in the human body. You can read more about it here.
What are the symptoms of allium allergy?
The symptoms of the allium allergy can appear up to 2 hours after ingestion of alliums.
People who are allergic to alliums can experience:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, itching, rash, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, trouble breathing, stomach pain, coughing or wheezing, tingling sensation in the mouth, fainting or dizziness, and anaphylaxis.
As I said alliums are present in every corner of the world, so people who are suffering from allium allergy, or allium intolerance have to be alert all the time.
3 key thoughts about allium allergy:
- Allium are onion, garlic, shallot, chives, scallion, leeks, ramps
- Alliin lyase or Alliinase is the enzyme that causes the allergic reaction
- Symptoms of the allium allergy can appear up to 2 hours after ingestion.
People with allium allergy can experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, itching, rash, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, trouble breathing, stomach pain, coughing or wheezing, tingling sensation in the mouth, fainting or dizziness, and anaphylaxis.
