Turmeric allergy, and what a reaction looks like

Turmeric has been part of cooking for thousands of years, so a reaction to it can come as a surprise, but like any food, it doesn't agree with absolutely everyone.

A turmeric allergy is rare, and most published reactions are to turmeric on the skin rather than in food. In a French allergy network's records of 589 food allergy cases, spices caused just 2% of food allergies, though 6.4% in adults. Itchy skin, hives, and swelling can all be signs.

Key takeaways

• Allergic reactions to turmeric are uncommon, and most reported cases involve turmeric applied to the skin.
• A food allergy can cause itchy skin, hives, swelling, sneezing, or tummy pain, straight after eating or days later.
• Swelling of the lips, mouth, or throat, or difficulty breathing, needs a 999 call straight away.
• A food intolerance is different, because it doesn't involve the immune system and can't cause a serious allergic reaction.
• Turmeric isn't one of the 14 allergens UK food law requires businesses to highlight, so always read the full ingredients list.

What is a turmeric allergy?

An immune reaction to turmeric, either when it's eaten or when it touches the skin.

A turmeric allergy is defined as the immune system treating turmeric as if it were harmful and reacting to it. The NHS describes a food allergy as often mild, but very serious for some people. With turmeric, the reports split into two kinds: reactions on the skin where it has been applied, and reactions after eating it.

How common is a turmeric allergy?

Uncommon, and serious reactions from eating turmeric are rarely reported.

The French network's data is one of the few to look at spices as a group. Spice allergies made up a small share of food allergies overall, were seen only in adults, and were more likely in young adults already allergic to mugwort and birch pollen. Only tiny amounts of protein are usually eaten in a spice, which may be part of the reason reactions are uncommon.

What does a skin reaction to turmeric look like?

Itchy, red, or blistered skin where the turmeric has been, appearing within hours or days.

This is called allergic contact dermatitis, and it accounts for most of the published turmeric reactions. A review of curcumin as a contact allergen brought together 11 studies showing that curcumin, the main compound in turmeric, can cause it. In a patch test study of people who reacted to kumkum, a turmeric-based powder worn on the forehead, four of 18 tested positive to turmeric itself, while others reacted to the dyes added for colour. Curcumin is even used to colour some products, and one Danish case report describes a rash after a curcumin-tinted skin disinfectant, which the authors note is very rare.

The NHS advice on contact dermatitis notes that handling raw, uncooked fruit and vegetables can trigger it in some people. Speak to a pharmacist if it's troubling you, and see a GP if it's persistent, keeps coming back, or is severe. If you use turmeric in a face mask, our guide to turmeric for skin covers that in more detail.

What does a reaction to eating turmeric look like?

The same signs as any food allergy, and they can appear quickly or days later.

The NHS lists the common symptoms of a food allergy as:

• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)
• swelling of the lips, face, and eyes
• coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, or a hoarse voice
• sneezing, or an itchy, runny, or blocked nose
• feeling sick or being sick, tummy pain, or diarrhoea

If you think you might have a food allergy, see a GP. They may refer you to a specialist for tests, such as a skin-prick test, blood tests, or a diet that leaves out the suspected food for a while.

When should you call 999?

If a reaction affects your breathing, your throat, or how alert you are.

The NHS says to call 999 if your lips, mouth, throat, or tongue suddenly become swollen, you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe, your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow, your skin, tongue, or lips turn blue, grey, or pale, you suddenly become very confused, drowsy, or dizzy, or someone faints and can't be woken up. These can be signs of anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that happens very quickly, and the NHS advice on anaphylaxis is clear on what to do: use an adrenaline auto-injector if you have one, call 999 for an ambulance and say you think it's anaphylaxis, and lie down, raising your legs, or sit up slowly if you're struggling to breathe. Don't drive yourself to A&E.

Is it an allergy or an intolerance?

An allergy involves the immune system, and an intolerance doesn't.

The NHS page on food intolerance explains that an intolerance happens when your body can't digest a food or ingredient well, causing symptoms such as bloating and tummy pain, usually a few hours after eating. Because it isn't the immune system overreacting, it can't cause a serious allergic reaction. One ingredient people can be intolerant to is salicylates, found in some fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices.

Some things aren't reactions at all. Yellow staining on skin, nails, or teeth is turmeric's colour, not an allergy. Warmth in your mouth or throat from ginger, chilli, or black pepper is their natural heat. And a stomach upset at high supplement doses is a side effect, which our guide to turmeric and an upset stomach covers.

Does turmeric have to be listed as an allergen?

No. It isn't one of the 14 allergens UK food law requires food businesses to declare.

The FSA's advice on food allergy lists the 14, which include celery, mustard, and sesame, but not turmeric or ginger. If you're allergic to something outside the 14, the FSA advises always checking the label or asking staff. Turmeric can turn up in curry powders, mustards, and as a colouring, so the full ingredients list is the place to look.

What if you react to a turmeric blend?

It may be another ingredient, so it's worth finding out which one.

The NHS notes that some people get an itchy mouth and throat after eating raw fruit, vegetables, or nuts, which is called oral allergy syndrome and isn't usually serious. In a drink with several fruits and spices, any of them could be the cause, so stop drinking it and speak to your GP, taking the ingredients list with you. Our guide to turmeric side effects covers the reactions that aren't allergies.

Which shot has the simplest ingredients list?

Raw Turmeric Original, with seven items on its label.

For anyone who isn't allergic to turmeric, which is the great majority of people, Raw Turmeric Original has the shortest ingredients list in our range: watermelon, raw turmeric root at 30%, pineapple, lemon, magnesium, vitamin C, and our trade-secret BioMax Uptake Blend®, which includes black pepper, at a 0.1% inclusion. The label lists that blend as a black pepper mix rather than naming every spice in it, so if you react to spices or have a diagnosed food allergy, check the label and ask your GP before trying it.

The takeaway

A turmeric allergy is rare, and most reported reactions are to turmeric on the skin. If you notice itchy skin, hives, or swelling after eating it, see a GP, and if your lips, mouth, or throat swell or you struggle to breathe, call 999 straight away. Intolerance and side effects are more common than allergy, and they're a different thing.

For everyone else, a Raw Turmeric Original with breakfast is a simple way to enjoy turmeric every day, with the shortest ingredients list in our range.

Frequently asked questions