Coriander allergy
Allergy to coriander (cilantro).
About coriander allergy
Coriander (also called cilantro when referring to the leaves) is a herb and spice from the same plant family as celery, carrot, parsley, cumin and fennel. Allergy to it is uncommon but recognised, and it is an IgE-mediated allergy to coriander proteins. Because coriander belongs to this related plant group, some people who react to it are also sensitive to other members of the family, and there can be a link with certain pollen allergies such as mugwort.
Symptoms usually begin within minutes to two hours of eating and may include an itchy mouth, hives, swelling and stomach upset; more severe whole-body reactions are possible but uncommon. People who handle coriander and other spices frequently may also develop contact skin reactions. Because coriander is used as both a fresh herb and a dried spice, and often appears in spice blends and curries, reactions can be intermittent and hard to trace to a single ingredient.
Diagnosis is helped by a careful history and food diary, with skin-prick or specific-IgE blood tests arranged through an allergy specialist where needed, and awareness of related spices and foods in the same family. Management is based on avoiding coriander in both leaf and seed form and reading labels on spice mixes, ready meals and sauces. Most reactions are mild, but if any reaction ever involves breathing difficulty, throat swelling or faintness, treat it as a medical emergency and call 999.
Common triggers
- Coriander and products containing it
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.