What Spices Should You Avoid With a Nut Allergy?
Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MD
A tree nut allergy occurs when a person cannot eat a certain type of nut because their immune system deems 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.
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Types of Nut Allergies
There are various types of tree nuts that people can be allergic to. These include:
Almonds
Walnuts
Macadamia nuts
Peanuts and Tree Nut Allergies
Although many people are allergic to peanuts, 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 an allergen, which is the substance that causes an allergic reaction, it releases histamines. 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:
Difficulty breathing
Wheezing, coughing, or sneezing
Hoarseness or tightness in the throat
Itchy, swollen, or watery eyes
Hives (red and itchy welts that form on the skin)
Swelling in the face or throat
Anxiety
Drops in blood pressure
Severe Allergic Reaction Symptoms
A severe allergic reaction is known as anaphylaxis. Although some anaphylaxis symptoms are similar or the same as those mentioned above, the trademark symptoms of anaphylaxis are:
Flushing of the skin
Airways that are tight or completely closed
Confusion
Feeling light-headed or dizzy
Fear that you are about to die
Tightness in the chest
Losing consciousness or fainting
Shortness of breath
A contraction or spasm of the airways
Related: 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 as cross-reactivity.
Examples of cross-reactivity between specific spices and nuts include:
Cashew and pink peppercorn
Cashew and sumac
Pistachio and pink peppercorn
Almonds and mahaleb spice
Peanuts and celery seed
In cases like these, a protein found in both the spice and the nut is the allergen (allergy-causing substance). An example of this is a protein called prolamin found in many allergy-triggering foods, including almonds and wheat.
Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination refers 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 675 cumin products, 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 to read product labels to 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 were intentionally used 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.
Related: How to Tell If You Have a Spice Allergy
Common Spice Allergies
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:
Anise
Fennel
Garlic
Cinnamon
Sesame
Turmeric
Mustard
Vanilla
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.
Other Foods to Avoid
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.
Read Next: 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.
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
Do spices trigger allergies?
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.
Do spices contain nuts?
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.
Is nutmeg safe for nut allergies?
Contrary to its name, nutmeg does not contain nuts. The spice is derived from a seed. That is why nutmeg is safe for people with tree nut allergies.
Is cinnamon safe for nut allergies?
Similar to nutmeg, cinnamon does not contain nuts and is safe for those with nut allergies. It is made from the bark of a cinnamon tree. Cinnamon sticks are dried pieces of the bark and powdered cinnamon is made by grinding up the bark.
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