Lentil allergy
Legume allergy to lentils.
About lentil allergy
Lentils are a legume, related to peas, chickpeas, beans, peanuts and soya, and are a staple in soups, dhals and vegetarian dishes. Lentil allergy is one of the more common legume allergies in parts of southern Europe and the Mediterranean, and can appear in childhood. It is IgE-mediated: the immune system makes antibodies to lentil proteins, some of which are heat-stable, and eating lentils triggers a release of histamine and other chemicals. Because the proteins can survive cooking, both cooked and raw or under-cooked lentils may cause reactions.
Reactions usually begin within minutes to a couple of hours of eating. Symptoms range from an itchy mouth, hives and swelling to vomiting and, in some cases, wheeze or anaphylaxis, so reactions can be serious in sensitive individuals. Cooking vapours from boiling lentils have occasionally triggered symptoms in highly sensitive people. Legumes share some proteins, so a person allergic to lentils may also react to chickpeas or peas in particular, though cross-reactivity is variable and does not automatically extend to every legume.
Diagnosis combines your history with skin-prick or specific-IgE testing, and sometimes a supervised food challenge. Management means avoiding lentils and checking labels on soups, ready meals, snacks and flours, as lentil flour is increasingly used. If you are assessed to be at risk of a severe reaction, carry any prescribed adrenaline auto-injector and know how to use it. A severe reaction is a medical emergency: call 999 in the UK.
Common triggers
- Lentil 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.