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Last Reply:

Paprika Allergy

PaprikaAllergy posted:

My husband and I have made the discovery that he is allergic to paprika. I made deviled eggs for easter and when he ate one he broke out in hives. No itching, but he said his skin felt warm. Well the next day at our family dinner he ate another and started feeling his skin burn etc. Benedryl takes away the symptoms. We tried some straight ingredients and discovered it was the paprika. This time the hives did start to itch, he felt is nasal passages swelling, and his throat and tongue were burning. I typically use paprika when cooking so it seems to just be the concentrated amount that was sprinkled on top. Does anyone know if maybe the allergen in paprika is lessened when cooked? Makes me nervous to use it in anything now. Upon reading labels I discovered paprika is also in Mayo/Miracle Whip and Mustard... Any thoughts?

4 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Paprika AllergyMy husband and I have made the discovery that he is allergic to paprika. I made deviled eggs for easter and when he ate one he broke out in hives. No itching, but he said his skin felt warm. Well the next day at our family dinner he ate another and started feeling his skin burn etc. Benedryl takes away the symptoms. We tried some straight ingredients and discovered it was the paprika. This time the hives did start to itch, he felt is nasal passages swelling, and his throat and tongue were burning. I typically use paprika when cooking so it seems to just be the concentrated amount that was sprinkled on top. Does anyone know if maybe the allergen in paprika is lessened when cooked? Makes me nervous to use it in anything now. Upon reading labels I discovered paprika is also in Mayo/Miracle Whip and Mustard... Any thoughts?

bladescagirl responded:

Yes, be very careful. I started reacting to paprika a few years ago. Weird, because I have eaten paprika my entire life. Besides Miracle Whip and mustard, you must be careful of salad dressings, croutons, caned soup, shake and bake, lawrys seasoning salt, certain lunch meats/ hot dogs, and dry roasted peanuts, just to name a few. Best Foods Mayo is safe. Eating out has become very difficult as I've found alot of wait staff don't understand that paprika is hidden in tons of food items; not just the "red stuff" sprinkled on top. I carry inhalers and emergency epinephrine injections; as I have difficult breathing if I eat paprika. One of our local steak house restaurants nearly killed me one night even though I told them I had the allergy. Apparently they didn't know their ingredients very well. Best wishes and be safe!

Report This| Share this:Paprika AllergyYes, be very careful. I started reacting to paprika a few years ago. Weird, because I have eaten paprika my entire life. Besides Miracle Whip and mustard, you must be careful of salad dressings, croutons, caned soup, shake and bake, lawrys seasoning salt, certain lunch meats/ hot dogs, and dry roasted peanuts, just to name a few. Best Foods Mayo is safe. Eating out has become very difficult as I've found alot of wait staff don't understand that paprika is hidden in tons of food items; not just the "red stuff" sprinkled on top. I carry inhalers and emergency epinephrine injections; as I have difficult breathing if I eat paprika. One of our local steak house restaurants nearly killed me one night even though I told them I had the allergy. Apparently they didn't know their ingredients very well. Best wishes and be safe!

grungegirl responded:

My husband also has discovered that he is allergic to paprika. This has been a new development in the past 2 years; he's 39. We ordered a pizza tonight from our usual pizza place that has never bothered him before. They must have changed their ingredients - they did mention their ingredient prices were going up, so I'm wondering if they started using paprika in their pizza sauce in place of some other more costly ingredient. Anyhow, if he has paprika, within 1 hour he has diarrhea and/or vomiting. His stomach is in agony for hours after consuming it; like it's being punched and squeezed. I can't buy any pre-made meals or order out, because paprika is listed in almost everything. Sometimes it's hidden generically in "spices" on a food label. It's so frustrating!

Report This| Share this:Paprika AllergyMy husband also has discovered that he is allergic to paprika. This has been a new development in the past 2 years; he's 39. We ordered a pizza tonight from our usual pizza place that has never bothered him before. They must have changed their ingredients - they did mention their ingredient prices were going up, so I'm wondering if they started using paprika in their pizza sauce in place of some other more costly ingredient. Anyhow, if he has paprika, within 1 hour he has diarrhea and/or vomiting. His stomach is in agony for hours after consuming it; like it's being punched and squeezed. I can't buy any pre-made meals or order out, because paprika is listed in almost everything. Sometimes it's hidden generically in "spices" on a food label. It's so frustrating!

An_245955 responded:

I just reached the same conclusion that PaprikaAllergy hypothesized. I've avoided paprika for years -- including the Hungarian Mushroom Soup that I used to make and enjoy with no reaction. (It has LOTS of paprika.) Recently a friend persuaded me try that soup again, and it was as good -- and as benign -- as it used to be. Thinking that I had outgrown my paprika allergy, I made a large batch of Russian Dressing this evening, even though the recipe called for paprika, and served some on a salad. Mistake! My reaction wasn't severe, but my head feels "weird" and my lips are burning. Think I'll try boiling the dressing to see whether that makes a difference.

Report This| Share this:Paprika AllergyI just reached the same conclusion that PaprikaAllergy hypothesized. I've avoided paprika for years -- including the Hungarian Mushroom Soup that I used to make and enjoy with no reaction. (It has LOTS of paprika.) Recently a friend persuaded me try that soup again, and it was as good -- and as benign -- as it used to be. Thinking that I had outgrown my paprika allergy, I made a large batch of Russian Dressing this evening, even though the recipe called for paprika, and served some on a salad. Mistake! My reaction wasn't severe, but my head feels "weird" and my lips are burning. Think I'll try boiling the dressing to see whether that makes a difference.

Edorama replied to An_245955's response:

As a child i suffered from severe migraines. Since the age of 25 I have monitored the ingredients in my food. I am 50 years old and as long as I stay clear of Paprika and MSG I do not get migraines. This is real. Unfortunately, cooking schools and govt agencies do not agree that Paprika is not a necessary necessary ingredient and that it does more harm to unknowing victims than good. It once was used to preserve meats in leu of refrigeration. Today it is more often used as a coloring and you would not miss it as a taste ingredient if it were omitted. Keep a food journal and see if it is your enemy. I did.

Report This| Share this:Paprika AllergyAs a child i suffered from severe migraines. Since the age of 25 I have monitored the ingredients in my food. I am 50 years old and as long as I stay clear of Paprika and MSG I do not get migraines. This is real. Unfortunately, cooking schools and govt agencies do not agree that Paprika is not a necessary necessary ingredient and that it does more harm to unknowing victims than good. It once was used to preserve meats in leu of refrigeration. Today it is more often used as a coloring and you would not miss it as a taste ingredient if it were omitted. Keep a food journal and see if it is your enemy. I did.

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