Mustard allergy, hidden mustard in foods, and cross-reactions
What it found
Mustard can trigger allergic reactions that are rising in places where it is eaten more often.
It may also hide in foods without being obvious on the label.
What they found
Studies in people
Rising allergy rates
Allergic reactions to mustard are increasing gradually. This rise is seen most clearly in areas where people eat more mustard.
Severe allergic reactions
Mustard sensitivity should be checked in patients who have severe allergic reactions with no clear cause.
Studies in people and animals
Cross-reactivity with other foods
The proteins in mustard that trigger allergies can react in similar ways to proteins found in other foods.
Other findings
Hidden mustard in foods
Mustard can be present in foods without being obvious. People with allergies need to recognize products that might contain it.
What the authors conclude
- They advise that doctors should routinely test for mustard sensitivity in patients who suffer from unexplained severe allergic reactions.
- Their goal is to keep allergic patients safer by identifying hidden sources of mustard.
How it was done
Mustard is added to many foods for flavor and nutrition, which raises the chance of allergic reactions. Allergies to mustard have been reported for years and are growing, especially where people eat more of it.
The authors gathered and summarized clinical studies on allergic reactions caused by mustard in people. They also looked at what is known about the proteins that cause these reactions and how they overlap with other food allergens.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work gathers past studies rather than running a new trial, so it cannot measure exactly how common mustard allergy is today.
- It cannot prove that eating mustard directly causes every allergic reaction described in the gathered reports.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (from the PubMed record).
- Authors work at
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), India; Tulane University School of Medicine, USA
The paper
- Title
- A Comprehensive Review on Mustard-Induced Allergy and Implications for Human Health
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Sharma A, Verma AK, Gupta RK, Neelabh, Dwivedi PD (2019). A Comprehensive Review on Mustard-Induced Allergy and Implications for Human Health. Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology. doi:10.1007/s12016-017-8651-2PubMed 29159565DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error