Runner beans are in the Fabaceae family of plants, which are also called legumes. Other plants in this family include lupin, lentils, peanuts, peas and soya.

Runner beans are the species Phaseolus coccineus, other beans in the Phaseolus genus include butter beans and green beans.

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not currently have any defined allergens for runner beans, but the closely related green bean contains lipid transfer proteins (LTP), so it is likely that runner beans also contain them.

Runner beans, like the closely related green bean 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.

Runner beans are low 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.

Runner beans are one of the few vegetables 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.

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

As they contain LTP proteins runner beans are associated with LTP Syndrome. These proteins are found in lots of seemingly unrelated foods.

An allergy to green bean is strongly associated with FPIES (Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis), so if this is a concern you may also want to avoid runner beans.

Other foods which contain lipid transfer proteins 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.

Other foods in the Phaseolus genus include butter beans, lima beans, black turtle beans, borlotti beans, cannellini beans, flageolet beans, green beans, haricot beans, kidney beans, pinto beans and white beans.

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

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