Durian fruits are in the Malvaceae family of plants. Other plants in this family include cocoa and okra. It is famously known for its strong unpleasant smell.

The smell given off by durian fruit is due to volatile sulphur compounds. You can read more on the Sulphites page.

There are no recorded allergens for durian fruits 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.

Durian fruit is a low 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.

Durian fruit is a food high in salicylates. Salicylates have the potential to cause worsening of asthma, swelling, itching and hives as well as food intolerance symptoms in people who are sensitive to salicylates.

Durian fruit is one of the few foods that is high in sulphites when fresh. Sulphites are inorganic salts used in preservations and have the potential to cause symptoms of food intolerance to those sensitive to sulphites, this food intolerance is more common in asthmatics. An improvement in symptoms can be made with a change to a low sulphite diet.

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

Durian Fruit contains volatile sulphur compounds, which account for the smell of the fruit. For some people, foods high in sulphites can cause worsening of asthma symptoms.

Durian Fruit is in the Malvaceae family of plants which include cocoa and okra, if you are allergic to durian you may also have problems when eating similar foods.

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