Other allergens

Some of these are:

• seeds (sesame, sunflower, poppy)
• kiwifruit
• corn/maize
• lupin (lupin flour)
• mango
• legumes (chickpeas, beans, peas, lentils)
• spices (including mustard).

Sometimes environmental or contact allergies can have cross-reactions with food. This is because the allergy-causing protein is similar to a protein in the food.

One example is when people with a latex allergy sometimes react to banana, kiwifruit, chestnut and avocado. The protein in latex that causes the allergy is a natural protection the rubber plant produces to protect against insects. Banana, kiwifruit, avocado and chestnut plants also produce this or a similar protective protein.

Another example is people who are allergic to birch pollen may react to several different kinds of fruit, again because of similarities in proteins. Usually this causes reactions in the mouth and lips only (called oral allergy syndrome). You do not need to avoid these foods unless you know you react to them.