Lupin products and allergies

19 August 2004

A recent study in the Medical Journal of Australia (Vol 181:4, 16 August 2004) reports three cases of people with allergic reactions after eating products containing lupin.

Lupin is related to other legumes, including peanuts and soy. Lupin has been a food ingredient in Europe for many years where it has been used to replace cereal grains in food products such as flour or pasta. However, it is not a common food ingredient in Australia. Lupin is grown in Western Australia, mainly for use in stock feed.

People allergic to peanuts may also be allergic to lupin because the major allergens in lupin are also found in peanuts.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) advises anyone who thinks that they may be allergic to lupin (or any other food) to seek medical advice. Packaged foods containing lupin as an ingredient must list lupin in the ingredients list.

There are eight major allergens: seafood, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, soy, wheat and eggs which must be declared on the food label however small the amount added. At this stage, FSANZ does not consider that lupin should be included in the list of major allergens as its use is not widespread. Lupin is not considered a major allergen in Europe or in the USA.

 

For more information on allergies see:

Anaphylaxis Australia http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/

Allergy New Zealand http://www.allergy.org.nz/