ALLERGY RESOURCES

COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - THE TOP 14 ALLERGENS AND BEYOND

COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - THE TOP 14 ALLERGENS AND BEYOND

VANILLA ALLERGY


Key Allergens

Vanilla pods are harvested from plants in the orchidaceae family. Most plants in this family are orchids. It is used in cooking for flavour and for fragrance in cosmetics.

Vanilla picking is labour intensive, so vanilla extract and vanilla flavour are the other options for low-cost vanilla flavouring. Vanilla extract is made by processing vanilla pods with alcohol, so it contains natural vanilla flavours. Vanilla flavour can be made artificially and is usually always clear in colour, which helps distinguish it from vanilla extract, which is normally brown.

The flavour component of vanilla is called Vanillin and this can cause contact reactions if applied directly to the skin.


Food Intolerances

Food is low in FODMAP Food is low in salicylates

Vanilla 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.

Vanilla is 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

Vanilla pods and vanilla extract both contain essential oils that may be linked to contact dermatitis.


Cross Reactivity

Vanilla is often linked to balsam of peru allergy, which is considered to be a top 5 allergen for contact allergies. They have many of the same chemical components, if allergic to balsam of peru you may want to consider avoiding vanilla as well.

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



Resources

Websites

DermnetNZ - Systemic Contact Dermatitis

Allergen Encyclopedia - Vanilla

Science Direct - Vanilla

Science Direct - Vanillin

FODMAPedia - Vanilla

ATP Science - Salicylate Foods

Allergy UK - Balsam of Peru


Articles and Journals

Allergic contact dermatitis to lip care cosmetic products – a systematic review, 2024

Allergic contact dermatitis from essential oil in consumer products: Mode of uses and value of patch tests with an essential oil series, 2023

Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Older Adults, 2023

Vanillin: A food additive with multiple biological activities, 2022

Airborne Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Vanillin, 2021

Allergy and intolerance to flavouring agents in atopic dermatitis in young children, 1994

Delayed-type allergy to spices, 1984



Let me know if you found any of these interesting or useful. If you spot an article or research that you think is interesting you can message me or tag me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter - links at the bottom of the page.


Original Website Design by Jemma Dalton - © Allergy Resources. All rights reserved.

About
Privacy Policy
Sitemap

Follow Us