Onion allergy is a rare form of allergy, which is triggered when onion or onion-containing foods are consumed. People with this allergy usually experience bloating, gas, abdominal cramps or migraines after eating onions. Onion allergy is mostly associated with raw onions. Cooking the onions before eating can help some people to overcome this allergy. People with allergies to onions may also be allergic to garlic.
Symptoms of Onion Allergy:
Hives, itchiness, bloating, gas, nausea, diarrhea and headache are some of the symptoms of onion allergy. In rare cases, the allergy can progress to an anaphylactic reaction, which can be fatal. Hence, those with onion allergy should carry a self-injectable epinephrine to prevent the anaphylactic reaction.
Sometimes a person might be having onion intolerance rather than an allergy. Onion intolerance is caused when the body is unable to breakdown the onion and digest it. The intolerance shows up with digestive problems such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea etc. An allergy test can make it clear if you have an allergy and intolerance.
Elimination Diet:
If you have mild symptoms such as hives, bloating or gas after consuming onions, you can follow an elimination diet. This involves eliminating onions from your diet for a period of time. If your symptoms subside after the elimination of onions, you might be allergic to onions.
You can also try eating cooked onion rather than raw, as most people have allergies to raw onion.
Allergy Testing:
If you suspect onion allergy, consulting an allergist is recommended. Your allergist can conduct a blood test (RAST) or a skin prick test to check if you have allergy to onion.
Preventing Onion Allergy:
To prevent onion allergy, avoiding onions in your diet is necessary. Reading food labels can help you to filter out onion-containing products. While eating out, you can enquire about the ingredients and avoid those dishes which contain onions.
Treatment for Onion Allergy:
Over-the-counter drugs and antihistamines are useful for treating onion allergy. However, antihistamines are prescribed only for food allergies and not for intolerance. If you experience only gastrointestinal symptoms after eating onions, then you have an intolerance and not an allergy.
If there are hives and skin reactions, then topical steroids can be taken. In case of severe allergy, a doctor should be approached immediately.
Share your experience with others to spread information about onion allergy and intolerance symptoms. You will discover that most processed foods like seasoning mixes, ketchup, canned goods and sauces have onions as an ingredient.
4 Comments
I have an onion allergy. If I eat too many onions I breakout in a rash inside my stomach. When I ingest onions it will first disrupt my digestive system. Once it gets into the blood stream it can cause migrains and start to close up my nasel passage ways. I love onions which makes this very hard to not want to eat but the things it does to my body is worse then not eating them. Garlic is going the same way. I also have developed an allergy to lilies which I am told is part of the onion family. Someone who is wearing purfume with lilies in it will set me in to an asma type attack. At this time Zertec does help but with onions in so much food I am having to take more and more. I did not develope this allergy till in my early 30’s. I started with pain in my stomach and digestive problems. They thought it was my gallbladder,even removing it. However the pain continued after it’s removal. They found when they scoped me to look in my stomach that I had a rash ( angry red section ) that the doctor could not explain. He sent me to digestive specialist who sent me to an allergist. Well that explains how it was figured out what was going on. My problem is that since onions are some times consided a spice they are not always listed. Also products like milk and beef if I consume too much can cause the same reaction.( no I am not lactous intolorant) Because some beef nad milk don’t bother me…will the only thing I seem to be able to figure out is cattle are some times feed onions in their diet. So how am I to figure out what I can and can not eat with products not marked for an onion allergy. I know I am not the only onion allergy person out here, so how do I get in contact with them? Since it started so late in life will it every go away? Well this onion lover who has been de-onioned could use any help you can give her. Oh the garlic is starting to do the same thing as the onion..which means pizza, spegetti sauce just about every receipe in the cook books and cooking show the favorite ingredients are onions and garlic.
Thanks
Hi Mary,
I have a problem with onions too. I think it’s an intolerance over an an allergy as my symptoms are all gastroenterological, (spelling?), but it’s a real nuisance because I just can’t eat anything that I don’t prepare myself. If you look at any packaged foods that are savoury, 99.9% of them will contain onions or onion powder. If I eat them, I am in pain for days and it’s not only uncomfortable, it’s downright painful. My sensitivity started after a bout of food poisoning many years ago and since then, I’ve avoided eating onions as much as possible. I have to cook everything from scratch – no pre-made sauces for pasta, no soups from cans, no stews, sauces, rissottos etc. etc from supermarkets or restaurants. You do get used to it, and the lack of pain and suffering makes up for the incovenience…eventually! Some days I’ll give in and have something ready-made because I’m too tired to make anything for myself. I have to make sure I take something to neutralise the effects though, like Mylanta or an anti-spasm drug. I’m interested in the fact that you’re allergic to lilies too. I have the same problem but hadn’t made the connection between them and onions. The best advice I can give you is avoid eating onions and garlic altogether. The best way to avoid them is to avoid all pre-packaged foods, and if eating out in a restaurant, get them to cook something from scratch for you and say you have an onion allergy so they’ll be extra careful not to use chopping boards, knives etc that have been contaminated. It really sucks, and people think you’re being silly and extra-picky, but hey, if you had a peanut allergy, no-one would think you strange if you avoided eating them and made a big deal out of it. As for cooking without onions…it is possible, even though most of the modern world seems to think the opposite! It’s just that the food tastes a bit bland. You’ll find new ways of flavouring – herbs, spices etc. It’s worth the effort. Good luck!
I have finally put two & two together after doing elimination testing & decided I am allergic to onions & garlic… Garlic always repeated on me for days & I find every time I eat something with onions, my skin reacts!!
I get a sort of hive/boil like reaction which eventually breaks out & take ages to heal, especially when I used to unknowingly continue to eat onions…
Other things (such as ginger, aloe vera, tea tree oil, soy products, sulphur based fruits, especially dried apricots) do cause this same sort of reaction but I have been avoiding those foods & products for quite some time…so couldn’t understand why I was still reacting on odd occasions…
Now having recently eliminated onions I am not getting the severity of reactions at all!!
I am now scared to resume taking my quercetin, as I just discovered this particular batch is sourced from onions… Does anyone else have experience of using this anti inflammatory supplement, even when allergic to onions?
Ta
I have an onion allergy. If I eat a sandwich that has an onion on it I will violately throw up. If I actually ingest the onion it becomes difficult to breathe. This allergy sucks there are several food items I cannot eat because of this. When I tell people at fast food places to be careful because of it they look at me like I am crazy. I have read where there is a link between this allergy and aloe. My son is allergic to aloe. I wonder if my allergy was changed during my pregnancy to become an aloe allergy in him. Does anyone know if this can happen.