Black eyed peas (also called cowpeas) are in the Fabaceae family of plants, these are also known as legumes. Other plants in this family include kidney beans, peanuts, peas, lentils, lupin, green beans and soya beans. If you want to find out more about legumes you can visit the Legume page.

Black eyed peas are the species Vigna unguiculata, so are similar to Vigna angularis (adzuki or red beans), Vigna mungo (black gram beans) and Vigna radiata, which are green gram beans (also known as mung beans).

To date there are no recorded allergens for black eyed pea by the World Health Organization (WHO), because there have not been enough study into allergic effects from this food. If you are interested in what is needed by the WHO before they add an allergen to their allergen database you can check that out HERE.

Mung beans contain 7S seed storage proteins and Bet v 1 proteins which are linked to Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome. There is a possibility that black eyed peas contain similar proteins.

Black eyed peas are high in histamine when they are eaten from cans, this is because of the ways they are preserved. Canned peas are not suitable for people who are following a low histamine diet.

Black eyed pea are a high FODMAP food. FODMAP stands for Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. Foods high in FODMAPs can cause symptoms of food intolerance, affecting the gastro intestinal system and this can be mistaken for a true IgE food allergy.

Most canned beans are low in Salicylates, these have the potential to cause gastrointestinal food intolerance symptoms in people who are sensitive to salicylates.

Black eyed peas are high in lectins, another cause of food intolerance. Cooking foods with lectins makes them more digestible and can reduce the symptoms of food intolerance.

You can read more about Food Intolerances on the dedicated Food Intolerance Page.

Black eyed peas are not currently associated with any allergic syndromes.

Other plants in the Fabaceae family of plants includes arabic gum, peanut, carob bean, chickpeas, guar gum, soya, lentils, lupin, runner beans, butter beans, grren beans, kidney beans, peas, tamarind, fenugreek, broad beans, black gram beans, mung beans and black eyed peas.

Other foods containing 7S seed storage proteins include mung beans, fenugreek, sesame seeds, chia seeds, peas, pistachio, macadamia nuts, lupin, lentil, walnut, edamame beans, soya, buckwheat, hazelnut, coconut, chickpea, quinoa, pecan, peanut and cashew nuts.

Other foods containing Bet v 1 proteins include mung beans, fenugreek, tomato, raspberry, pear, peach, almond, plum, cherry, apricot, aniseed, parsley, parsnip, poppy seed, apple, walnut, soya. strawberry, fig, persimmon fruit, carrot, melon, hazelnut, chestnut, jackfruit, peanut, celery, dill and kiwi.

Note these food lists are not exhaustive, the most up to date information is on the Cross Reactivity Tool.

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