Lists of foods cross-reacting with pollen

Pollen allergic people may experience symptoms when they eat certain fruits, vegetables, spices, and nuts. It is called cross-reactions.

Lists of foods

Below you will find some of the foods identified so far that may cross-react with pollen. You can see which foods that may cause symptoms.

A pollen allergic person will seldom experience symptoms from all the foods mentioned on the list under one type of pollen. So the pollen allergic person can eat all the fruit and vegetables that do not cause symptoms even if they are on the list. In addition some pollen allergic people may react to foods that are not on the list.

Raw or cooked

Most people with a pollen allergy can better tolerate the cross-reacting foods when they have been cooked, baked, or roasted. If they get symptoms from raw celery and nuts it is however likely that they also will experience symptoms from these two foods when they are cooked.

Reactions towards spices and herbs are rare.

* Tomato is botanically classified as a fruit but is presented as a vegetable here since that is how it is commonly consumed

Honey, camomile tea, and health food

A few people with pollen allergy may experience symptoms when eating or drinking something containing pollen. Honey, camomile tea, and some health food products and herbal medicine such as propolis may contain pollen. Pollen in foods is not declared on the label.  

Exotic fruits and vegetables

Some people with pollen allergy unexpectedly experience symptoms when they eat raw exotic fruits and vegetables e.g. when travelling. For pollen allergic people who normally experience strong reactions towards certain foods it is therefore a good idea to restrict themselves to small pieces of exotic fruits and vegetables until they know whether they can tolerate them.