In fact, buckwheat’s scientific name is Fagopyrum esculentum, family Polygonaceae and it’s related to rhubarb. Additionally, whilst it may seem like a cereal grain, it’s not. Cereal grains by definition come from the Poaceae family (grass family), so buckwheat falls under the term pseudocereals, like quinoa and amaranth.
What is a Food Allergy?
A food allergy is a response by your immune system that’s triggered by a protein that your body sees as a threat. This is not the same thing as a food intolerance or an autoimmune disease. It’s important to know that no two people are the same, and people allergic to the same food item can experience completely different allergic responses from the next person. Person A may experience high blood pressure and difficulty breathing whilst person B may experience severe abdominal pain and allergic rhinitis.
If you suspect you have a food allergy, ask your healthcare provider/main doctor to refer you to an allergist for allergy testing where a blood test and/or skin prick tests can be ordered to determine if you have an allergy. Know that tests are not 100% accurate, but are still a good diagnostic tool.
A “true” food allergy is IgE mediated, and the immune system usually elicits a reaction to the food within immediate ingestion to four hours. Outside of that window, it’s usually suspected that you have a food intolerance.
However, there are some types of allergenic diseases that are “true” food allergies and the reactions happen outside of the four hour window. Additionally, a person can have a more rare or complex case and suffer from delayed reactions (which can still be “true” food allergies) or even biphasic reactions (I personally have this condition).
In rare cases, patients can also have a contact or airborne allergy to buckwheat as well. This tends to be a bit more “common” in those with peanut and tree nut allergies rather than in those with a buckwheat allergy. In their case, a reaction can be triggered by touching buckwheat or by breathing in its particles.
Inhalation of buckwheat flour is a great example, and this can cause adverse effects in allergic individuals like myself with an airborne allergy (like when cooking or baking). Food allergies can be life threatening and should always be taken seriously. Work with your allergist and healthcare providers to create an action plan that will meet your needs.
Symptoms of a Buckwheat Allergy
Food allergy reactions can vary among patients, as no two people are the same. Some allergy symptoms of a buckwheat allergy include:
- Swelling of the Lips
- Swelling of the Tongue
- Swelling of the Throat
- Itchy Mouth and/or Throat
- Shortness of Breath
- Difficulty Breathing
- Wheezing
- Skin Rashes
- Itching
- Hives
- Racing Heart Rate
- Decreased Blood Pressure
- Impending Doom/Dread
- Dizziness
- Fainting/Loss of Consciousness
- Severe Stomach Pain
- GI Distress
- Nausea
- Vomiting (including projectile vomiting)
- Diarrhea
- Blood in Stool
These symptoms are the more severe allergic reactions and can indicate anaphylaxis. It’s critical that if you see these buckwheat allergy symptoms that you seek immediate medical attention. If you have a known allergy, follow your action plan, including the use of an epinephrine auto-injector (Avi-Q, Epi-Pen, etc.).
There are hundreds of symptoms a person can experience, but it’s important to know three things about buckwheat allergy symptoms and reactions:
- Not every reaction is anaphylaxis. People can have a “non-traditional” buckwheat allergy reaction to food and still be allergic to buckwheat.
- Should a person experience severe symptoms or anaphylaxis, it’s important to seek immediate medical treatment (use your epinephrine auto-injector if you have one). When left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can cause death.
- Previous allergic reactions don’t predict future reactions (or the severity), and in some patients, continued exposure to known allergens can cause more severe reactions each time.
A child may talk about a food allergy differently than adults. Children might say things like “my mouth is spicy” or “there’s a frog in my throat”. They’re trying to express what the reactions feel like to them with language or experiences that are familiar to them. Always take note of these types of statements from a child, as they can indicate a serious medical situation. If needed, don’t hesitate to seek medical treatment.
If your child refers to new foods with this type of language, be sure to schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor to make sure everything’s OK.
You May be Asked to Do an Oral Food Challenge
A food challenge, sometimes called an oral challenge, is when an allergy patient eats a food they’ve tested as allergic to, or for a food where the results were inconclusive, under the supervision of their doctor and/or medical team. The goal of the challenge is to confirm the positive results or to determine if the patient isn’t allergic to the food.
There are several steps involved with a proper oral food challenge, including raising the patient’s heart rate to make sure a reaction doesn’t happen. A lot of people wonder, is this a good idea, or a really bad idea.
Honestly, it depends. Let’s say you had a severe reaction to buckwheat in the last year, and that’s what prompted you to get tested. Since a reaction is already known, in that case, an oral food challenge would be a bad idea. On the flip side, let’s say you were diagnosed with a buckwheat allergy after a panel was run alongside other foods. Perhaps you’ve never eaten buckwheat before and your doctor feels it’s in your best interest to confirm the diagnosis. In that case, an oral food challenge could be very helpful.
Food challenges are also used to confirm if someone has outgrown an allergy (this is a lot more common in kids). For some kids, they’re diagnosed early with really high numbers on their test results and the food(s) will be avoided for years. During a checkup, the allergist may note that their numbers have decreased dramatically, and it would be safe to do a food challenge. Many allergy parents are understandably nervous, and some choose to move forward with the challenge whilst others decide they’ll continue to avoid the food(s).
In some extreme cases, even a reduction in numbers won’t lead allergists to suggest an oral food challenge, and that’s because of the other contributing factors. Food challenges are completely voluntary, and you don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable doing, nor do you have to subject your children to them. At the end of the day, do what makes sense for you.
How to Shop for Food When Managing a Buckwheat Allergy
When managing any kind of food allergy, Celiac Disease (called Coeliac Disease in some countries), or any other dietary restriction, shopping for food can feel like climbing Mount Everest. This is especially true the first several times you shop post-diagnosis.
In most developed nations, they have what’s called the Top Allergens, or Major Allergens. Here in the United States we have what’s called the Top 9 Allergens. Other countries have the top 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 allergens.
Buckwheat is not considered a major allergen here in the US, or in any other country that has the top 9 – 14 allergens. For reference, the top 9 are wheat, milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame.
Food labels are legally required to call out major allergens on food labels. When you read the ingredient list, just under it, you’ll often times see a “Contains Statement” and it will say something like “Contains Milk”.
Since buckwheat isn’t considered a major allergen, it doesn’t fall under the food allergen labeling laws. However, food laws in general are pretty robust and if buckwheat is in the product, it should be labeled.
To know if buckwheat is in a product, you’ll want to look at the ingredient list and carefully read each item. If you see buckwheat, or any of the names for buckwheat (listed below), you’ll want to avoid that product and purchase something else instead.
When you’re new to shopping for food with a buckwheat allergy, unless you have a wheat allergy, Celiac Disease, or gluten sensitivity, I’d suggest avoiding gluten free products. That’s because buckwheat is becoming a more common ingredient in foods made for those following a gluten-free diet. You’ll also want to be on high alert when reading ingredient labels on vegan foods.
Diet Types That Exclude Buckwheat
As you shop and look for recipes online, you can look to these diet types for help, as they’re naturally be free from buckwheat. However, if you’re only allergic to buckwheat, these diet types will be incredibly strict and restrictive for your needs.
- AIP Paleo
- Grain Free Diet
- Low Oxalate Diet
- Paleo
- Paleo-Vegan
Related: Buckwheat Flour Substitutes (great for baking)
Names for Buckwheat and Buckwheat Allergy Foods to Avoid
This is a list of foods to avoid and ingredients to avoid when managing a buckwheat allergy. These products are made from buckwheat, and some are other names for buckwheat.
- Buckwheat Crackers
- Buckwheat Groats
- Buckwheat Kernels
- Light Buckwheat Flour (sometimes golden buckwheat flour)
- Dark Buckwheat Flour
- Buckwheat Pancake (on menus, you may see these listed as buckwheat pancakes, but buckwheat can also be an ingredient in pancakes that are just called “pancakes” or “gluten free pancakes”)
- Buckwheat Pasta
- Buckwheat Risotto
- Buckwheat Tea
- Cream of Buckwheat (a warm breakfast cereal/porridge)
- Kasha (a name that can mean boiled groats and often refers to buckwheat, popular in Eastern Europe)
- Puffed Buckwheat
- Rutin (a flavonoid compound found in buckwheat and other plants, sometimes taken as a dietary supplement)
- Soba Noodles (popular in Asian countries, especially Japan, also called Buckwheat Soba)
In China, and in imported Chinese products, you may see buckwheat noodles called Wantuo and Helao.
List of Foods That Might Contain Buckwheat
Wheat-containing foods can still contain buckwheat, and whilst it’s not as common, it’s still possible, so make sure you’re reading ingredient labels carefully. There’s a wide variety of foods can be made with buckwheat flour or buckwheat groats. If a food is on this list, it’s not guaranteed to contain buckwheat.
- Alcoholic Beverages (Beer and Whiskey)
- Baked Goods (muffins, chocolate cake, etc.)
- Blinis
- Blintzes
- Breading/Crust for some Fried Foods
- Breakfast Cereals (usually as buckwheat flour or buckwheat groats)
- Cabbage Roll Filling
- Crepes (common especially in France where they make savory crepes called galettes)
- Fermented Products (not usually found in traditional fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut)
- Gluten-Free Foods & Foods Marketed Towards Those with Celiac Disease or a Wheat Allergy (crackers, cookies, baked goods, packaged snacks, etc.)
- Grain Bowls or Harvest Bowls (cooked buckwheat can be part of the base alongside ingredients such as rice and quinoa)
- Knish
- Packaged Foods with Buzzwords like “Healthy” or “High Fiber” or “Good for Gut Health”
- Seeded Products (seeded breads etc.)
- Soups and Stews
- Specialty Salads
- Vitamins & Supplements
- Vegan Foods (vegan chili, vegan baked goods, etc.)
Those allergic to buckwheat should also avoid sleeping with a buckwheat pillow (sometimes called a buckwheat husk pillow). It’s not something that’s commonly found in hotels etc., but it a product to be aware of.
For those who enjoy dining out, buckwheat is a staple food in Eastern European cuisine, so make sure you understand what’s on the menu and how buckwheat may be involved.
Buckwheat can sometimes be found in cosmetics, but it’s not a common ingredient. You’re more likely to find it in specialty products, rather than in your average tube of lipstick.
Cross-Reactive Foods with Buckwheat
In some patients, they have what’s called a cross reactive allergic reaction. That’s because the immune system gets “confused” by foods that have similar proteins to buckwheat. Foods that are known to have cross-reactivity with buckwheat are coconut and poppy seeds. Those allergic to buckwheat may also experience a cross-reactive allergic reaction to latex.
A buckwheat allergy doesn’t guarantee you’ll have an allergic reaction to cross-reactive foods. You’ll want to talk with your medical team about this, and also consider an oral food challenge for cross-reactive foods.
Oral Allergy Syndrome (Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome)
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), now called Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS), is a condition where a person with a specific pollen allergy can experience food allergy-like symptoms when consuming foods related to the pollen. In simple terms, particular foods contain similar proteins to pollen (Alder, Birch, Grass, Mugwort, and Ragweed), and the immune system gets “confused” and elicits an allergic response from the body.
However, what makes OAS so incredibly unique is that most of the allergic reactions are limited to the mouth and throat. Additionally, the reactions generally happen when consuming raw fruits and vegetables. The allergic reaction varies from person to person, but there are some common reactions with oral allergy syndrome including lip swelling, tongue swelling, itchy mouth, and itchy or sore throat.
Buckwheat is part of the birch pollen group along with many other foods, including banana, celery, dill, and kiwi. A person who is allergic to birch pollen may experience an immune response when eating raw buckwheat products.
When patients with OAS peel the food and/or cook the foods related to the pollen(s) they’re allergic to, many self-report that they’re able to eat the food without having an allergic reaction. This is attributed to the denaturing of the protein. Once cooked, the similar proteins that normally cause the allergic reaction “look different enough” to the immune system and it now knows that the food is fine. In more rare cases, a person can still have reactions when the food (buckwheat in this case) is cooked, even though the buckwheat protein has been denatured.
OAS/PFAS is not a super common condition, and not everyone with a pollen allergy has reactions to related foods. Additionally, if you have OAS, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to avoid all foods related to the pollen you’re allergic to. If you’re new to managing a pollen allergy (birch in the case of buckwheat), work with your medical team to determine if you’ll need to avoid birch allergy related foods as well.
Remember, no two people are the same and in rare cases, patients can experience more severe allergic reactions, especially with continued exposure to trigger foods. Additionally, not everyone with oral allergy syndrome can consume trigger foods, even when they’ve been cooked or peeled. To learn more about this condition, start with this article from Allergic Living. The Allergy Foundation of America also has helpful information on this condition.
Latex Allergy Information
Those allergic to buckwheat may experience a cross-reactive reaction to latex as well. However, it’s important to know that a latex allergy (like PFAS) comes with a list of foods to avoid.
With a latex allergy, there are three categories of cross-reactive foods: High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Low/Undetermined Risk. Buckwheat is on the Low/Undetermined Risk of foods cross-reactive with latex.
For those allergic to buckwheat, there’s a very, very, very low chance that you’ll need to avoid other foods cross-reactive with latex, however, you should be aware of the condition. If you find yourself having reactions to “random” foods, research their connection. If latex is at the center of it all, that can help you better understand what other foods you’ll need to avoid.
Just remember, only some people allergic to buckwheat will have a cross-reactive issue with latex. AND, for those in that category, it’s incredibly rare that they’ll need to avoid all latex allergy foods. If however you have an IgE allergy to latex (not just to buckwheat), then you’ll want to fully familiarize yourself with latex allergy related foods.
Answering Your Buckwheat Allergy Questions
I have rice, sorghum, and buckwheat allergies. Is there a good way for someone like me to bake?
Yes! You’ll want to follow Paleo and AIP Paleo baking recipes. Additionally, you can follow grain free baking recipes. All three of these diet types have loads of free-from recipes available (probably for some of your favorite foods as well) including baked goods.
You’ll need to work with ingredients you’ve probably never heard of before, but I promise it will be worth it. You can also check out the Advanced Recipe Search on RAISE. You can use the Paleo filter along with the dessert filter and see some very tasty options.
Does soy sauce contain buckwheat?
Usually no, buckwheat won’t be found in soy sauce, but wheat is an ingredient in soy sauce. However, in our fun and modern times, a lot of food products contain ingredients you wouldn’t suspect (sometimes to be innovative) so make sure you read ingredients carefully. Buckwheat has been known to pop up in specialty fermented products here and there.
Is buckwheat cross reactive with sesame seeds as well as poppy seeds?
No, buckwheat isn’t cross reactive with sesame seeds. If you suspect you’ve had an allergic reaction to sesame seeds, make sure you get tested. You may be allergic to both buckwheat and sesame seeds.
Should I be concerned about cross-contamination in wheat flour for buckwheat?
Cross-contact (sometimes called cross-contamination) is a valid concern, as grains such as wheat, rye, barley are commonly milled and processed alongside gluten free grains and pseudograins including buckwheat and oats.
What you’ll want to do is reach out to the flour mill and find out if they process wheat only, or gluten-containing grains only (remember, buckwheat is gluten free) before making a purchase.
