# Tomato Salsa Allergy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405 "2009-03-05T16:59:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/1 "2009-03-05T16:59:15Z")
A “friend” seems to have a mild allergic reaction every time he eats salsa made from diced tomatoes. For example, the “mild” salsa at Chipotle Grill. Is there any ingredient which is the likely culprit? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/2 "2009-03-05T18:59:21Z")
Cilantro? That can be an allergen: [http://www.understanding-allergy.com/cilantro-allergies.html](http://www.understanding-allergy.com/cilantro-allergies.html) (folks who hate the stuff won’t be surprised at this manifestation of its evil nature. Personally I like it though). ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/3 "2009-03-05T19:03:54Z")
I’m seconding cilantro, which, I’ve read, is the most widely used herb in the world. My wife will get a headache which is of a type that she can attribute to cilantro even if she’s unaware that she’s eaten any. We found that out when she got one of those headaches and we went over our past few meals. The only thing we had was chili that I had made and I don’t use cilantro. Further detective work revealed that the chili powder that I had used contained coriander - which is, in fact, cilantro. She’s very sensitive to it, we find. Yep. That’s my bet. p.s. I _ **HATE** _ the taste of cilantro. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/4 "2009-03-06T00:22:27Z")
A friend turned me on to this awesome non-tomato salsa. I don’t think it has cilantro either, so your friend should be able to enjoy it. It’s the vidalia onion and Jalapeno salsa on [this page](http://www.boswellsbeanery.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BBB&Product_Code=SS&Category_Code=SnS). It’s very sweet, and very hot. Not the hottest I’ve ever had by any means, but it’s got a nice kick to it. The sweetness of the vidalia onions adds a really interesting dimension to it, and it’s become one of my favorites. It’s better when served cold, imo. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/5 "2009-03-06T00:26:50Z")
If it’s a mild reaction, it might be an oral allergy syndrome reaction to tomatoes. Oral allergy syndrome is when a raw fruit or vegetable cross reacts with a pollen that the person is allergic to. This type of reaction tends to be worse when the relevant pollen is in season and may go away when it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/6 "2009-03-06T00:31:10Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Cilantro? That can be an allergen: [http://www.understanding-allergy.com/cilantro-allergies.html](http://www.understanding-allergy.com/cilantro-allergies.html) > (folks who hate the stuff won’t be surprised at this manifestation of its evil nature. Personally I like it though). I’ve seen that site before, but what’s curious is that it has absolutely no cite that anyone is allergic to cilantro other than the article itself, which remains authorless. All the article says is “people could die! It’s so hard being a cilantro sufferer!” No doubt, some people really don’t like cilantro, but I’d like a bit more scientific evidence people are actually allergic. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/7 "2009-03-06T04:02:15Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I’ve seen that site before, but what’s curious is that it has absolutely no cite that anyone is allergic to cilantro other than the article itself, which remains authorless. All the article says is “people could die! It’s so hard being a cilantro sufferer!” > > No doubt, some people really don’t like cilantro, but I’d like a bit more scientific evidence people are actually allergic. well, my dad was allergic to ragweed, which is a plant. I am allergic to mushrooms and they are plants [ok, fungi] mrAru is allergic to poison ivy … as are most people alive and that is a plant. And why is cilantro exempt from someone being allergic to it? Granted I think it tastes like soapy ass, our roomie who is no blood relation to mraru or i thinks it tastes like ass, and mraru thinks it tastes like ass. I dont claim to be allergic to it, but I can see being allergic to it just as if it were mushrooms, or onions, or black pepper, or cashews, or peanuts … I am perfectly certain that someone in this world of how many billion people is actually allergic to cilantro. Just because I dont actually know anybody claiming to be so, doesnt mean that nobody is. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/8 "2009-03-06T04:30:35Z")
Since no one has brought it up, I will point out that about 25% of people taste cilantro as a soap-like flavor. Most people don’t have this condition (which may or may not be genetic, and no one knows exactly why these people taste it differently). It seems like more than 25%, but I imagine there is a vocal minority. RE: the OP, go to the doctor and get an allergen test done. ---
**Author:** ![Bluffcityguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Bluffcityguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluffcityguy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/9 "2009-03-06T10:26:57Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > well, my dad was allergic to ragweed, which is a plant. I am allergic to mushrooms and they are plants [ok, fungi] mrAru is allergic to poison ivy … as are most people alive and that is a plant. > > And why is cilantro exempt from someone being allergic to it? Granted I think it tastes like soapy ass, our roomie who is no blood relation to mraru or i thinks it tastes like ass, and mraru thinks it tastes like ass. I dont claim to be allergic to it, but I can see being allergic to it just as if it were mushrooms, or onions, or black pepper, or cashews, or peanuts … I am perfectly certain that someone in this world of how many billion people is actually allergic to cilantro. Just because I dont actually know anybody claiming to be so, doesnt mean that nobody is. My first ex-wife was allergic to iceberg lettuce, fer Gawd’s sake. I have no problem accepting the proposition that for any given potential allergen, there’s some human being somewhere in the world who is allergic to it. Cheers, bcg ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/10 "2009-03-06T14:21:40Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > A “friend” seems to have a mild allergic reaction every time he eats salsa made from diced tomatoes. For example, the “mild” salsa at Chipotle Grill. The hot salsa is OK? What happens with plain diced tomatoes? Probably someone on the planet is allergic to most any food, but my impression with cilantro is that there is a loud minority of diehards who just hate the way it tastes, not that it is particularly a threat to life on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/11 "2009-03-06T14:46:22Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The hot salsa is OK? > > What happens with plain diced tomatoes? > > Probably someone on the planet is allergic to most any food, but my impression with cilantro is that there is a loud minority of diehards who just hate the way it tastes, not that it is particularly a threat to life on the planet. 😃 as one of those vocal ones, it can shrivel up and die as far as i am concerned … is it being a threat to my enjoyment count? After all, food is life [cant remember who said it, but it popped up on a random quote generator that a friend has in her email…] grin duck and run … ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/12 "2009-03-06T15:37:59Z")
Could be a [sulfite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfite) used as a preservative. ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/13 "2009-03-06T16:14:05Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I’ve seen that site before, but what’s curious is that it has absolutely no cite that anyone is allergic to cilantro other than the article itself, which remains authorless. All the article says is “people could die! It’s so hard being a cilantro sufferer!” > > No doubt, some people really don’t like cilantro, but I’d like a bit more scientific evidence people are actually allergic. I have no cite, only the word of a coworker who is honestly allergic to cilantro. When we go out to lunch she carries an epi-pen, prescribed by her doctor after allergy testing. People don’t stab themselves with epi-pens because something tastes yucky. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/14 "2009-03-06T19:43:56Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The hot salsa is OK? Yes, as is the typical salsa you buy in a jar in a grocery store. > [@](#): > > What happens with plain diced tomatoes? Plain tomatoes are fine. > [@](#): > > Probably someone on the planet is allergic to most any food, but my impression with cilantro is that there is a loud minority of diehards who just hate the way it tastes, not that it is particularly a threat to life on the planet. My “friend” consumes cilantro regularly without any problem. ---
**Author:** ![Bluffcityguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Bluffcityguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluffcityguy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/15 "2009-03-06T19:51:30Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Yes, as is the typical salsa you buy in a jar in a grocery store. > > Plain tomatoes are fine. > > My “friend” consumes cilantro regularly without any problem. ISTM that a consultation with an allergist may be in order now… Cheers, bcg ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/16 "2009-03-06T20:35:50Z")
Chipotle’s website or corporate office might be able to tell you what ingredients are in the mild salsa but not the hot salsa, thus narrowing the field. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/17 "2009-03-06T21:00:26Z")
I wonder if there could be some tropical fruit they add to the mild salsa? I’m sensitive to things like banana, melon and avocado - but not allergic. I still eat 'em. They make my throat a bit scratchy, but no one’s taking my guacamole from me. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomato-salsa-allergy/488405/18 "2009-03-06T21:20:54Z")
Why is he your “friend”?