Rapeseed is a crop in the Brassicaceae family of plants, other members of this plant family includes mustard, cabbage and turnips. You can read more about this family of plants on the brassicas page.

Rapeseed is a common crop harvested in the UK, rapeseed oil is used in dressings and cooking oils. Canola oil used in Canada and the US is made from specific variants of rapeseed.

Bra n 1 is the main allergen in rapeseed. It is a 2S albumin seed storage protein.

Rapeseed pollen is often blamed for allergic rhinitis symptoms as the flowering season coincides with the pollen season of the much more allergenic birch and oak. The flowers of rapeseed are insect pollinated, so considered to be of low allergenicity. Visit the rapeseed pollen page.

Rapeseed 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.

Rapeseed is a food low in histamine, so is suitable for people following low histamine diets.

Rapeseed contains 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. As canola/rapeseed oil is highly processed it is unlikely to cause a problem with people who suffer with lectin intolerance.

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

Rapeseed allergy is not associated with any syndromes at this time.

Other foods containing 2S albumin seed storage protains are peanut, groundnut, kiwi, various tree nuts, mustard, turnip, soya beans, sesame and castor beans.

Other foods in the Brassicaceae family of plants includes broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, mustard, radish, swedes and turnips.

Please note that this food list is not exhaustive, the most up to date information is on the Cross Reactivity Tool.

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