ONION ALLERGY
Key Allergens
Onions are in the
Amaryllidaceae family of plants which also includes shallots, spring onions (scallions) and leeks. Allergy to onion is very rare, but it can cause allergic contact dermatitis and urticaria.
An allergy to onions after ingestion is more commonly linked to
Non-IgE mediated allergy than a true IgE allergy. It is important if you think you are allergic to complete a food diary to ensure you are not eliminating large groups of food unnecessarily. There are tips on
how to make a Food Diary here.
One of the allergens identified in onion are
Lipid Transfer Proteins (LTP), which are panallergens with the potential to cause allergy over large groups of seemingly unrelated foods.
The other identified allergen is a
profilin protein. Again this is a panallergen.
Food Intolerances
Onions are one of the few fresh foods that contain a moderate amount of naturally occurring
sulphites. 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.
Onions 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.
Onions are low 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.
Associated Syndromes
An allergy to onion is most often associated with
allergic contact dermatitis and urticaria (hives and wheals on the skin), this is due to diallyl disulphide.
If you have allergic symptoms to multiple foods you may be suffering
LTP Syndrome.
Allergy to onion can be linked to
Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome this is when people are affected by profilin proteins in multiple foods.
Cross Reactivity
Onion is in the
Amaryllidaceae plant family, other plants in this family are chives, leeks and garlic. If your allergy is severe these plants may also cause allergic reactions.
Common foods involved in LTP allergy include kiwi, strawberries, sunflower seeds, walnut, apple, mulberry, banana, pea, apricot, cherry, plum, almond, peach pomegranate, raspberry, tomato, grape, celery, peanut, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, chestnut, lemon, tangerine, orange, hazelnut, lettuce, lentils, lupin, green bean, pear, mustard, wheat and maize.
Profilin proteins are also found in celery, peanut, soyabeans, walnut, lupin, almonds, mustard, hazelnut, kiwi, pineapple, chilli, melon, orange, strawberry, lychee, apple, banana, aubergine (eggplant), peach, pear, tomato, dates, cherry, carrot, barley and wheat.
Please note that these food lists are not exhaustive. The most up to date information is on the Cross Reactivity Tool.
Resources
Websites
DermNet NZ - Onion
Allergen Encyclopedia - Onion
Healthline - Am I Allergic to Onions?
Anaphylaxis Campaign - Onion and Garlic Allergy
Dermnet NZ - Onion
Healthline - FODMAP
ATP Science - Salicylate Foods
Articles and Journals
Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis caused by leek and several allergens of the allium family, 2024
Garlic Allergy, 2023
Anaphylaxis across Europe: are pollen food syndrome and lipid transfer protein allergy so far apart? 2022
Allergic reactions to emerging food allergens in Canadian children, 2021
An unusual case of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome due to zucchini, 2021
Onion and garlic induction of severe allergic reactions: sparse reporting cases, 2021
Lipid Transfer Protein Syndrome-an emerging allergy in non-mediterranean countries?, 2021
Association between maternal vegetable intake during pregnancy and allergy in offspring: Japan Environment and Children’s Study, 2021
Pru p 3 oral immunotherapy efficacy, induced immunological changes and quality of life improvement in patients with LTP syndrome, 2020
Allergic hypersensitivity to garlic and onion in children and adults, 2020
Occupational exposure and respiratory health problems among nutmeg production workers in Grenada, the Caribbean, 2017
Diagnosis of exercise-induced anaphylaxis: current insights, 2016
Garlic and onion sensitization among Saudi patients screened for food allergy: A hospital based study, 2013
Involvement of Lipid Transfer Protein in onion allergy, 2007
A case of onion allergy, 2001
Bronchial asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact dermatitis caused by onion, 1994
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