Is Cinnamon Safe For Nut Allergies?

As its use increases, allergies to cinnamon will likely be on the rise in the general population. If you are found to be allergic, monitoring exposure to the spice may be difficult, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not monitor the use of cinnamon. So where does cinnamon come from?

Cumin (or spice mixes that include it) may contain peanut filler that can trigger an allergic response. Having a nut allergy doesn’t just mean avoiding the nut itself — you also have to be careful not to eat foods that contain it.

Diagnosis of a Cinnamon Food Allergy. To diagnose a cinnamon food allergy, your allergist can perform a skin test (a painless prick test on your arms or back) and you will get the results after just 20 minutes. If cinnamon extract is not available for the test, a blood test can be done, though skin testing is preferable.

There are a few spices that should be avoided if you have a nut allergy because they may contain traces of nuts that could trigger an allergic reaction. Cumin is a type of dried spice. It is derived from the seeds of the Cuminum cyminum plant. The plant itself is native to Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean.

What to do if you are allergic to cinnamon?

If you think you may be allergic to cinnamon, see your allergist. Your doctor can help diagnose your condition with either a skin test, a patch test, or both. He/she will help guide you in managing the cinnamon allergy so it does not get in the way of your daily life.

So What Is a Cinnamon Allergy? You can be allergic to almost anything, but when it comes to foods, most people are allergic to the same seven foods, including seafood, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, and dairy. Spice allergies make up only about 2% of all food allergies. 2 .

Spice allergies make up only about 2% of all food allergies. 2 . The symptoms of a true food allergy, including one to cinnamon, include: Rash or hives (a rash that looks like mosquito bites and is also itchy) These symptoms usually occur within a few minutes to an hour after ingestion of your allergen.

To diagnose a cinnamon food allergy, your allergist can perform a skin test (a painless prick test on your arms or back) and you will get the results after just 20 minutes. 2  If cinnamon extract is not available for the test, a blood test can be done, though skin testing is preferable. DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND.

If you have a positive skin test and had a previous reaction to cinnamon, you are likely allergic to the spice. Your allergist will likely prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector and go over how and when to use it.

These symptoms usually occur within a few minutes to an hour after ingestion of your allergen. It is important to keep in mind that you can have a delayed food reaction, which means your reaction could occur several hours after consumption.

Cinnamon spice is from the Cinnamomum tree bark and its flavor comes from an essential oil, particularly cinnamal. 1  There are two major types of cinnamon, known as cassia and Ceylon. Ceylon is considered purer and is native to Sri Lanka and India.

What are some legumes that are allergic to peanuts?

A peanut allergy can result in an allergy to other forms of legumes, including green beans, green peas, kidney beans, lupins and soya. Some people with a peanut allergy are sensitive to other culinary nuts as well, such as almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts.

Shelled and unshelled peanuts. Peanuts are one of the eight most common foods known to trigger an allergic response. With this type of allergy, your body …

Spice Allergy. Although a peanut allergy doesn’t lead to an allergic response to spices, you or your child can also be allergic to these ingredients. Spice allergies are rare, but do exist. The most common culprits include caraway, coriander, fennel, mustard, paprika and saffron.

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, many glazes, sauces and marinades can contain nuts, such as chili sauce, hot sauce, pesto, mole and gravy.

The Food and Drug Administration requires all food manufactures to list the most common food allergens on their labels, so they must note any spice containing peanuts. The same is true for foods containing milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, soy and wheat.

Cross-contamination. Food labeling laws don’t regulate the potential cross-contamination of foods or spices. Manufacturers don’t need to state that they produce a spice in a facility that also processes nuts. However, most voluntarily warn consumers of this on their labels.

Image Credit: lirtlon/iStock/Getty Images. Peanuts are one of the eight most common foods known to trigger an allergic response. With this type of allergy, your body misidentifies the protein in peanuts as harmful, triggering an abnormal immune response.