Goji berries (also known as wolfberries) are in the Solanaceae family of plants. Other plants in this family include aubergine (eggplant), tomato, potato and chillis. These are also collectively called nightshades.

Goji berries have been shown to contain Lipid Transfer Proteins (LTPs).

Goji berries are 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.

Goji berries is one of the few fruits to contain a moderate amount of lectins, another cause of food intolerance. Cooking foods with lectins makes them more digestible and can reduce the symptoms of food intolerance.

Goji berries are high in salicylates. Salicylates have the potential to cause gastrointestinal food intolerance symptoms in people who are sensitive to salicylates.

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

As they contain lipid transfer proteins, goji berries can be associated with LTP Syndrome. This is when different groups of foods which are seemingly unrelated cause severe allergic reactions.

Other foods which contain lipid transfer proteins include almond, apple, apricot, asparagus, aubergine (eggplant), banana, beetroot, lupin, blueberry, broccili, cabbage, celery, cherry, chestnut, corn, durum wheat, fennel, fig, grape, grapefruit, green bean hazelnut, kidney beans, kiwi, lemon, lentil, lettuce, mulberry, mustard, onion, orange, parsely, parsnup, pea, peach, peanut, pear, plum, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry, sunflower seeds, tangerine, tomato, walnut, wheat.

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

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