Rice is harvested from plants in the Poaceae family of plants. Other plants in this family include barley, corn, wheat, durum wheat and oats.

The allergens in rice are called Ory s 1 and Ory s 12. They are both considered to be airway allergens.

Ory s 1 is a beta expansin protein. These are found in the cell walls of plants and are a common cause of grass pollen allergies.

Ory s 12 is a profilin protein, most commonly causing allergic reactions in the airway, like hayfever.

Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (commonly known as FPIES) is often triggered by rice. After milk and soya milk, rice is one of the most common foods which triggers FPIES in children.

Rice 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.

Rice contains lectins, with higher amounts in brown rice or wild rice over more processed white rices. Lectins can cause food intolerance symptoms in some people. The amount of lectin protein in food can be reduced by cooking for longer or soaking grains in water and rinsing before cooking. This breaks down the proteins and reduces reactions.

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

Allergic reactions to rice are commonly linked to Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES). This is a non IgE allergic condition in babies and young children which causes vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.

Only barley contains beta expansin proteins as food allergens. As an airway allergen, multiple species of grasses, rye and maize all contain beta expansin.

Profilin proteins are both food and airway allergens. Other profilin airway allergens are ragweed, wormwood, grasses, birch trees, sunflower, olive, plantain, poplar, oak and maize.

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

Read more about Grain Allergens and Pseudocereals.

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