Celery allergy
Celery allergy, including celeriac and celery salt.
About celery allergy
Celery, including the stalks, the root vegetable celeriac and celery salt and spice, is a recognised food allergen that must be declared on UK food labels. Celery allergy is more commonly reported in mainland Europe than in some other regions, and it can affect adults as well as children. It is an IgE-mediated allergy, and in many people it is linked to birch or mugwort pollen as part of a pollen-food pattern, while in others it involves more robust proteins that can cause stronger reactions.
Celery is notable because, unlike many pollen-related fruit and vegetable allergies, it can cause severe reactions and can trigger symptoms even when cooked, as some of its proteins resist heat. Symptoms usually begin within minutes to two hours of eating and range from an itchy mouth and hives to swelling, stomach upset, wheezing and, in some people, anaphylaxis. Celery belongs to the same plant family as carrot, parsley, coriander and fennel, and some people react to several of these related foods.
Diagnosis is made by an allergy specialist using skin-prick or specific-IgE blood tests, sometimes with a supervised food challenge. Management means strict avoidance and very careful label-reading, as celery is a common hidden ingredient in stocks, soups, sauces, spice blends and ready meals. People at risk of severe reactions are usually prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector and shown how to use it. A severe reaction is a medical emergency: use adrenaline and call 999.
Common triggers
- Celery stalks and celeriac\nSoups, stocks and spice mixes
Symptoms
- Itching or tingling in the mouth
- Hives, itching or eczema
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat
- Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- In severe cases, anaphylaxis
Avoidance & management
- Read ingredient labels every time
- Ask about ingredients and cross-contamination when eating out
- Keep the food out of shared cooking areas
- Carry prescribed antihistamines or an adrenaline auto-injector
- Seek emergency help for any severe reaction
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.