Today we’re going to talk about all things mustard allergy. Managing a mustard seed allergy sounds easy on the surface, however, it’s actually a lot harder than you’d think.
In the US and other countries that don’t use the top 14 allergens as their guidelines, mustard can be in a whole range of foods you’d never think about. In Top 14 nations (including the UK and EU member states) it’s a lot easier to manage a mustard allergy since it has to be called out.
Now that you know that, let’s dive into the details, including food allergy basics. Be sure to use the table of contents to jump around to the areas that you need.
What Is Mustard
Mustard is a cruciferous plant, related to cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and arugula (rocket). It’s part of the brassica family, and can be used in a wide range of savory dishes and sauces across a range of cuisines.
The most common form of mustard is prepared mustard (a very popular condiment), followed by ground mustard, which is used as a spice.
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 (sometimes called a food sensitivity) or an autoimmune disease.
If you suspect you have a food allergy, ask your healthcare provider/main MD to refer you to an allergist for allergy testing where blood tests and/or a skin prick test 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 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).
In some patients, they have what’s called contact or airborne allergies as well. This tends to be a bit more common in those with peanut and tree nut allergies, but is also seen in those with a mustard allergy. In their case, a reaction can be triggered by touching the food or through inhalation of its particles (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.
Helpful Info
The diagnosis rate of a mustard allergy is currently on the rise. However, there are a lot more seeds out there. If you’d like to learn more about different seeds and what it means to have a seed allergy, check out this helpful article.
Mustard Allergy Symptoms
Food allergy reactions can vary among patients, as no two people are the same. Some allergy symptoms of a mustard allergy include:
- Swelling of the Lips
- Swelling of the Tongue
- Swelling of the Throat
- Itchy Mouth and/or Throat
- Tingling of the Mouth, Lips, or Throat
- Shortness of Breath
- Difficulty Breathing or Asthma Symptoms
- Wheezing
- Skin Rash and/or Severe Redness of the Skin
- Itching
- Hives
- Racing Heart Rate
- Decreased Blood Pressure
- Impending Doom/Dread
- Dizziness
- Fainting/Loss of Consciousness
- Severe Stomach Pain
- GI Distress or Abdominal Pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting (including projectile vomiting)
- Diarrhea
- Blood in Stool
These symptoms are more the more severe symptoms of the allergic reaction spectrum, and can indicate anaphylaxis. It’s critical that if you see these mustard allergy symptoms you recognize this is a medical emergency and you need to seek immediate medical help.
If you have a known allergy, follow your action plan including the use of an epipen if you have one, or prescribed antihistamines.
Three Critical Points
There are hundreds of symptoms a person can experience during an allergic reaction, but it’s important to know three things about mustard allergy symptoms and allergic reactions:
- Not every reaction is anaphylaxis. People can have a “non-traditional” mustard allergy reaction to food (or have mild symptoms) and still be allergic to mustard & mustard seeds.
- Should a person experience anaphylaxis, or you see signs of 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 of future reactions). In some patients, continued exposure to known allergens can cause more severe reactions each time. This is why strict avoidance of allergens is so important.
Kids and Food Allergies
A child may talk about a food allergy differently than adults. Many children will 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, and be sure to ask your GP for a referral to an allergy specialist.
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. If you’ve been tested for a mustard allergy, or other food allergy, you may be offered an in-office oral food challenge to ensure the test results are accurate. 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 mustard 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 poppy seed allergy after a panel was run alongside other foods.
Perhaps your allergist was concerned about potential reactions to other seeds and feels it’s in your best interest to challenge related foods. In that case, an oral food challenge could be very helpful.
How Challenges Can Help
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 at an early age with really high numbers on their test results and the food(s) will be avoided for years.
During a checkup, their 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 cases, an allergic individual may not be offered an oral food challenge by their allergist, even with a reduction in numbers, and that’s because of other contributing factors (including a history of severe allergic reactions).
Know that 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’s best for you and your children.
Mustard Seed Oil & Seed Oils in General
The great news when it comes to mustard is that mustard seed oil is not a commonly used ingredient at restaurants or in food manufacturing. One reason is simply the cost. Sure, you may run into some fine dining establishments that include mustard seed oil, but it’s going to be rare.
In addition to that, mustard oil is banned in the US, Europe, and Canada (as a vegetable oil, but not as an essential oil) due to the high erucic acid. If you’re an avid traveler, but sure to keep an eye out for the oil when traveling outside of these countries.
More About Seed Oils
You may have read that you can have a seed oil if you’re allergic to the plant. Here’s where that info is rooted: some people with a peanut allergy can tolerate peanut oil that’s been highly refined. The same is true of a soy allergy. Some people with a soy allergy can safely consume highly refined soybean oil.
The reason this works for some patients is because of how highly refined the oils are. In the cases of peanut oil and soy oil, most (and sometimes all) of the proteins are undetectable after the refining process is complete.
For some patients, this means that the oil is rendered safe to eat, however. And this is a BIG however. Some patients have had severe allergic reactions to highly refined oils, so please don’t think this is carte blanch to buy all the oils. It means it’s a good topic to discuss with your medical team. Your team of healthcare professionals can review your medical history and let you know if this would be safe for you to try.
The critical piece of information that’s often left out: not all commercial oils are highly refined. Mustard seed oil is the perfect example. It is absolutely, not a highly refined oil. If you have a mustard allergy, it is not safe to consume mustard oil, as mustard protein is still very much present. Additionally, a lot of mustard seed oil is cold pressed, and there’s very little refining involved in that process.
You should also remember that no two people are the same. Only some people with peanut, soy, and seed allergies can eat highly refined oils. Many patients still have to avoid these products, no matter what the mainstream may say.
I’ve met plenty of people who have severe reactions to highly refined oils, so keep that in mind should you move forward with a food trial.
If you’d like to learn more about seed oils, including a list of seed oils and alternatives, read this article.
Major Allergens
Top allergens, also called priority allergens and major allergens is related to not only the allergy diagnosis rate, but also food labeling laws. The top allergens in each country indicate the foods that are responsible for the most medical emergencies and reactions.
Regulating bodies in each country will also have laws on how these ingredients must be called out on food packages and in restaurants.
US Top 9 Allergens
Here in the United States, the Top 9 Major Food Allergens are:
EU Top 14 Allergens
EU Member States along with a few other select countries recognize these foods as the top 14:
- Celery
- Cereals Containing Gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats)
- Crustaceans
- Eggs
- Fish
- Lupin
- Milk
- Molluscs
- Mustard
- Peanuts
- Sesame
- Soybean
- Nuts
- Added Sulphites above 10mg/KG.
The UK, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Macedonia, and Ukraine also use these top 14 allergens, but each country will have its own laws and regulations for food allergen labeling and so on.
Interestingly, the EU legislation is the only one that requires non-prepackaged foods to follow the law across the board. In other countries, such as the United States, this varies state by state. It means that dining out in the EU will be easier, in theory.
Contains & May Contain Statements
Food labeling laws require foods containing major allergens to disclose this information. If you’re in a top 14 nation, you’ll see mustard in the ingredient list and it will either be called out in bold, or in a contains statement.
A contains statement looks like this: Contains: Mustard, Sesame, Milk.
If you’re in a country where mustard isn’t a major allergen, legally, it isn’t required to be called out on the label, and may be present in terms such as “natural flavors”, so always do your due diligence.
A May Contain statement isn’t a legal requirement in all countries. Sometimes it’s voluntary, and other times, it’s required. You’ll need to know your country’s regulations so you know what to expect on labels.
This statement refers to the manufacturing equipment and/or facility. If something is in the may contain statement, it means the food was made on shared equipment with the allergen, or in a shared space.
Each product will be different, so again, do your due diligence. In countries where the may contain statement is voluntary, if you don’t see the statement, that doesn’t mean the allergen isn’t present. It means the company doesn’t use may contains statements and you’ll need to contact them for complete details.
How to Shop for Food When Managing a Mustard Allergy
Depending on where you live, shopping for for food with a mustard allergy is going to be pretty easy, or feel like a nightmare. In countries that recognize the EU top 14 allergens, spotting mustard in foods will be on the easy side.
A few other countries recognize mustard as a top allergen including Belarus, Canada, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Outside of these countries, you’re going to have to call before purchasing premade foods. Generally, you won’t find mustard in some types of foods such as baked goods, tortillas, dry cereal, and desserts. Most packaged snacks will also be mustard free, but there will be some that have it. Anytime you see natural flavours outside of a Top 14 nation, call and confirm mustard isn’t present.
Now, if you’re living in the land of Top 14, mustard will be listed in a contains statement, or called out. It must be declared, even if it’s part of a sub ingredient such as a spice blend or natural flavours. Make sure you know the regulations in your country regarding ingredients such as natural flavors.
The one thing you’ll want to know about yourself when it comes to shopping is if you can tolerate traces of mustard in your food. About 30% of people with food allergies are unable to eat foods that have been made on shared equipment with what they’re allergic to due to these traces of allergens.
No matter what country you reside in, if shared equipment is an issue, you need to contact companies before purchasing items. The nice thing is, mustard has a narrow scope of use, so there’s a great chance you’ll be finding all sorts of delicious products to enjoy.
Mustard Labeling Information
Most regulating bodies require food companies to use plain language on the food labels (this is especially helpful with an egg allergy which we can talk about another time). What this means is that in the ingredient statement, you won’t see “Sinapis alba”, “Brassica juncea”, or “Brassica nigra” on the label (the scientific names for mustard) but instead you’ll see “mustard” or “mustard seed” or something along those lines.
Mustard oil and mustard seed extract are sparsely used in some countries, so be aware of their existence. Mustard oil (vegetable oil form, not essential oil form) is banned in the US, Canada, and Europe due to the high erucic acid content. However, it’s still used in some cuisines for its aroma and sharp flavour.
Mustard Free Diet Types
There are two diet types that are free from mustard:
- AIP Paleo
- Low/No Oxalate (ground mustard is on the moderate to high side and mustard greens have low oxalate content)
You’ll be able to find recipes online for these two diet types. There are also plenty of cookbooks and some commercial food products for the AIP Paleo diet.
If you manage a mustard allergy, along with other dietary restrictions, be sure to check out the Advanced Recipe Search on RAISE. You can mix and match over 100 filters for food allergens, food families, special diets, and much more.
Oral Allergy Syndrome Connection
Oral allergy syndrome, now called pollen food allergy syndrome, is a special type of food allergy. As the name implies, the allergy symptoms happen in the mouth (oral). In easy to understand terms, here’s how it works:
A person allergic to a specific pollen must avoid a specific list of foods because the proteins in said foods “look similar enough to the pollen” to their immune system that it causes a reaction.
This is known as cross-reactivity, and you can do a deep dive on that term to learn more. Also know that not every person with pollen allergies manages OAS.
In almost every OAS/PFAS patient, all allergic reactions occur above the collar bone, and mainly in the mouth and throat. In some rare cases, the reaction happens outside of this scope, but it’s still OAS.
Many OAS/PFAS patients are able to tolerate the cross-reactive foods if they’re well cooked first, as this denatures the protein so their immune system can “clearly see” that this isn’t the pollen, but something else.
There are five major pollens at play where OAS is concerned: Alder Pollen, Birch Pollen, Grass Pollen, Mugwort Pollen, and Ragweed Pollen.
In the case of mustard, it’s cross-reactive with mugwort, and it’s estimated that 50% of mustard allergy patients are also sensitized to mugwort pollen. This sensitization doesn’t guarantee OAS.
If you’d like to read more about OAS and see cross-reactive fruits and vegetables, check out this article here on my website.
Brassicacae Cross Reactivity
Some patients that manage a mustard allergy also have allergic reactions to other foods in the Brassicacae family. You’ll need to work with your medical team to determine if these foods will be safe for you to eat.
List of popular foods in the Brassicacae family:
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Collard Greens
- Kale
- Kohlrbi
- Radish
- Rutabaga
- Turnip
- Wasabi
Different Names for Mustard
Different forms of mustard can have different names, and you may see them on food packages. These are the names to be aware of:
- Black Mustard
- Brown Mustard
- Chinese Mustard
- Curled Leaf Mustard
- Head Mustard (looks like a head of cabbage)
- Horned Mustard
- Indian Mustard
- Japanese Giant Red Mustard (Takana)
- Korean Green Mustard & Korean Red Mustard
- Leaf Mustard (also called Bamboo Mustard, Mall Gai Choy, and Mustard Cabbage)
- Mustard
- Mustard Greens
- Mustard Oil
- Mustard Powder or Ground Mustard
- Mustard Seeds
- Prepared Mustard (yellow mustard, dijon mustard, etc.)
- Snow Mustard
- White Mustard
- Vegetable Mustard
Types of Prepared Mustard
Mustard is a popular spice, but it’s also a popular condiment (especially popular in France). From the baseball field to pretzel festivals, prepared mustard will be served in a range of varieties across different cuisines. Here are types of prepared mustards:
- Alsace Mustard
- Burgundy Mustard
- Chinese Hot Mustard
- Dijon Mustard
- Gray Poupon
- Honey Mustard
- Provençal Mustard
- Spicy Mustard
- Tarragon Mustard
- Truffle-Infused Mustard
- Whole Grain Mustard
- Yellow Mustard (classic US Version)
Mustard Allergy: List of Foods to Avoid
When you’re managing a mustard allergy, know that there are foods that naturally contain mustard products. When you see these food products, you’ll know right away that mustard will most likely be involved.
- BBQ Sauce (usually contains ground mustard)
- Beef Bourguignon
- Beef Wellington
- Coq au Vin (popular French chicken & wine dish)
- Cumberland Sauce
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise (it’s in most brands and varieties)
- Mostarda (also called Mostarda di Frutta)
- Moules a la Moutarde (mussels in a creamy mustard sauce)
- Quicje Lorraine
- Sarson Ka Tel (cooking oil in India made from mustard)
Hidden Sources of Mustard: List of Foods That Can Contain Mustard & Mustard Seeds
This is a list of foods that may contain mustard. However, just because a product type is on this list doesn’t guarantee the presence of mustard. It means that you need to really read ingredient labels carefully.
- Asian Condiments
- Béarnais Sauce (classic French sauce made with eggs and tarragon)
- Chips (Crisps)
- Chutney
- Curry (curry seasoning and prepared curries)
- Deli Meats
- Ethiopian Cuisine
- Fish Paste
- Fish Sauce
- Mayonnaise (most commercial mayo contains mustard)
- Meat Marinades
- Meat Rubs (Dry)
- Medication
- Pesto
- Pickles
- Pickled Vegetables
- Piccalilli (a relish made from chopped vegetables, mustard, and hot spices)
- Pizza
- Potato Salad
- Pre-Seasoned Meats (including hamburger patties)
- Pretzels
- Salad & Salad Dressings
- Sausages
- Spice Blends (premade seasoning such as curry or BBQ)
- Soups
- Stews
- Tomato Sauces (ground mustard can be present)
- US Southern Food (the leaves are a popular part of the plant, as well as ground mustard spice)
- Vinaigrettes
Eating Out at Restaurants with a Mustard Allergy
If you’d like to eat at a restaurant whilst managing a mustard allergy, you’ll have to do a lot of investigating before choosing to dine out.
The absolute safest option will be an expensive farm-to-table restaurant directly on a farm where everything is made from scratch. In those environments, they control a lot, and have so much control over the ingredients and can accommodate those with food allergies.
Whilst it’s a rare find, an AIP Paleo restaurant is going to be a top choice since it’s a seed free cuisine.
A steak house is another good starting point, especially one that advertises clean ingredients, and organic ingredients. That’s not to say they don’t use mustard, but your chance of success is simply higher. It can also be easier for them to grill you a range of meats in a clean pan with basic seasonings and salt.
Sushi restaurants are good choice, as mustard isn’t super popular in that cuisine, but it can still be present. Italian restaurants will be a middle of the road choice, as mustard can be in some of the sauces and spice blends. However, if you find the right restaurant, they’ll lean into a lot of green herbs, which don’t include mustard.
Indian restaurants won’t be a good option, as mustard is a popular spice in Indian cooking. French restaurants are also going to contain a decent amount of mustard across the menu. The same will be true of Chinese restaurants: different parts of the mustard plant will be used in a variety of ways across the menu.
I’ll also suggest avoiding high-end restaurants that have rotating seasonal menus that change frequently. Whilst they can make some minor adjustments, they really aren’t able to accommodate food allergy folks as easily since the ingredients are pretty set and the menu isn’t very flexible.
Answering Your Mustard Allergy Questions
If I have a mustard allergy, do I need to avoid all seeds?
Managing a mustard allergy can be tough. What’s important to know about not only your mustard allergy but all seed allergies is that you can be allergic to one, some, or all seeds.
The only way to know if you’ll need to avoid all seeds is to work with your medical team. They can order allergy tests, supervise an oral challenge, and give you great guidance based on your case history and test results.
Should I avoid other members of the brassicaceae family if I’m allergic to mustard?
Assuming you have a straightforward case, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to eat the other delicious plants of the brassicaceae family including Chinese broccoli, turnip, and cabbage.
How can I avoid accidental exposure to mustard?
The first big thing to do is to avoid foods that contain mustard. You’ll need to become a pro at reading food labels, even if you think mustard shouldn’t be present (you never know these days). If you can’t tolerate trace amounts of mustard, you’ll need to take further precaution and, talk with food manufacturers before purchasing products to confirm mustard isn’t made on the same line as their product
If you’re concerned about accidental exposure when eating out at restaurants, you’ll want to talk with an establishment in advance, extensively. When mustard is an ingredient on any of their menu items, you’ll need to find out what the risk of cross-contact (sometimes incorrectly called cross-contamination) is before eating there.
Unfortunately, there’s no 100% way to avoid every risk, unless you grow your own food and make everything at home. Even allergy friendly and free-from brands have the occasional food recall due to undeclared allergens because somewhere in their supply chain, a mistake was made.
What you can do however is be prepared. Make sure you have an action plan for your food allergy and know what to do if you have an allergic response. Also make sure that those in your family know how to treat an allergic response and how to advocate for you if necessary.
When you’re new to food allergy management, everything is going to feel BIG. Every small choice will feel HUGE. However, over time, you’ll find your groove and be a shopping pro, cooking pro, and totally starting to thrive and live your best life.
Is there a treatment or cure for a mustard allergy or food allergies?
There is no cure for food allergies, but food allergy research is progressing each day and learning more about how the immune system works. We may see a cure in the future, but for now, the only approved medical treatment at the time of this writing is called Oral Immunotherapy (OIT).
OIT is never guaranteed to work. In fact, when someone passes, we say they’re “in remission”, not “cured”, as there are no cures for food allergies. Know that results vary from one individual to the next because this is all a science of the immune system. Since no two people are the same, it’s impossible to predict 100% of the time how individuals will respond to OIT.
During treatment, patients ingest small amounts of what they’re allergic to. Some start at less than a 1 gram dose, and for reference, an ounce is 28 grams. This is done in hopes of having the immune system build tolerance. Some patients do well with this therapy and some patients never get past the first dose because of how sensitive they are to the allergen.
One the thing about OIT that people don’t talk about enough is that just how you can gain tolerance, you can lose it as well. I’ve also met people in this boat where they passed OIT, then a few years later woke up one day and had a severe allergic reaction.
Additionally, those with EOE have a higher risk of developing more issues if they undergo OIT. This type of science is, in my opinion, poorly understood, and all you can do is do your best and work with the knowledge you have and the guidance your medical team provides.
When it comes to OIT, really assess what it can do for you, and what your goals are. If the risk seems worth it, as an adult, I say go for it. If you’re managing a child, it’s different because of consent.
It’s really important that children give fully informed consent before you introduce known food allergens to their system (something a lot of parents overlook). This is doubly true if your child has a complex case.
Think of it this way: would YOU want something done TO you, or WITH you? There’s a big difference in those two scenarios.
If I experience contact dermatitis when touching mustard (condiment), am I allergic to mustard?
It’s possible. Anytime someone experiences skin irritation from touching a particular food, it’s a great idea to take photos in good lighting, then schedule an appointment with your doctor. Depending on the kind of healthcare system you use, you may have to meet with your main provider to receive a referral. In some cases, with all of this online health stuff, you might be able to email your doctor with the photos and request a referral that way (which I’m sure will be much faster).
Go through the process of allergy testing and see what the results are. If they’re inconclusive, work with your medical team on the next steps.
With skin reactions including eczema, rashes, irritation, and so on, it’s not always cut and dry. There may be other factors at play, and that’s what you’re investigating.
If you have an IgE mediated mustard allergy, your medical team should be able to diagnosis it rather quickly, then advise you on food allergy management.
I have nightshade and mustard spice allergies. Is it possible to make BBQ sauce or ketchup?
Yes! It’s possible to make condiments at home with these spice allergies, however, you’re going to need to manage your expectations.
Personally, I’d start with these ingredients:
- Butternut Squash
- Smoked Salt
- Ground Ginger
- Maple Syrup (dark and rich, high quality)
- Vinegar
- Black Pepper
- Organic Dried Marjoram
- Molasses
- Grains of Paradise (a type of spice made from seeds)
- Wasabi or Horseradish (for a little extra kick, but only if they’re safe for you)
Anytime you’re trying to make a free-from version of a particular food, the best advice I can give you is to focus on overall taste, overall texture, and key qualities. In the case of BBQ sauce and ketchup, it’s the tomatoes, smooth but a bit thick, vinegar notes, sweet notes, and heat spices.
In your case, in addition to replacing the tomato, you also need to replace the heat spices (that also lend to the flavour, especially in BBQ sauce). That’s where the ginger, wasabi/horseradish, and grains of paradise come to the table.
You’ll have flavour, heat, a little kick, and something interesting. You can look up traditional recipes for BBQ sauce and ketchup, then tweak the ingredients with some of these suggestions. Have fun!
Should I avoid canola oil if I have a mustard allergy?
Maybe. In some people with a mustard allergy, rapeseed oil (canola oil) can trigger an allergic reaction. You’ll want to work your medical team to determine if other Brassicaceae foods are triggers for your immune system.
There’s a good chance that you’ll be OK, but in case you’re part of that group, it’s important to be properly diagnosed. This will allow you buy the correct foods and follow the best recipes that are safe for you.
