Avocado Allergy 101: What You Need to Know about Avocado Intolerance

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Avocados are delicious, nutritious, and very popular. But if you have an avocado allergy, avocado intolerance, or are sensitive to avocados, you might need to make some dietary changes besides just avoiding eating avocados.

avocado allergy  blog banner with halved avocado on a wooden table
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Avocado Food Family

Avocados are part of the Lauraceae Food Family. The Lauraceae food family is also known as the Laurel Food Family (source). 

If you are allergic or sensitive to avocado, you may also be allergic or sensitive to other foods in the Laurel Food Family.

Lauraceae Food Family List (Laurel Food Family List)

  • Avocado
  • Bay Leaf 
  • Cinnamon
  • Sassafras (source)
  • File Powder (source) (also known as Gumbo File)
bay leaves and cinnamon sticks displayed on a blue background

Medical extracts are also produced by plants in the Laurel Family. These include camphor and eugenol (source). 

Avocado Cross-Reactivity & Oral Allergy Syndrome

The immune system and allergic reactions are quite complex. Avocado allergy may be more than a straightforward food allergy.

Adverse food reactions to avocado may be related to Birch Pollen, Oral Allergy Syndrome, Seasonal Allergies, Latex Allergies, and Histamine Intolerance.

Birch Pollen

Some environmental allergies are associated with allergic reactions to food.

pollen from birch trees

People with Birch Pollen Allergy may also experience allergic reactions to avocado (source). If you are allergic to birch pollen, you may also react to avocado.

Oral Allergy Syndrome

In cases of Oral Allergy Syndrome, Birch Pollen Allergy is associated with allergic reactions to the following foods (source):

  • Apple
  • Apricot
  • Avocado
  • Cherry
  • Peach
  • Pear
  • Plum
  • Kiwi
  • Carrot
  • Celery
  • Parsley
  • Peanut
  • Soybean
  • Almond
  • Hazelnut
halved avocados and kiwi on a wooden background

Latex Allergy Syndrome

People with latex allergy may also have allergic reactions to other foods. This is known as latex-fruit syndrome. People who are allergic to latex may also have allergic reactions with avocado as well as other foods. 

Foods associated with latex allergy syndrome are (source):

  • Avocado
  • Banana
  • Bell Pepper
  • Chestnut
  • Kiwi
  • Peach
  • Potato
  • Tomato
avocados, bell peppers, chili peppers, and tomatoes displayed on wood for avocado allergy

Histamine Intolerance

Avocado intolerance is also associated with histamine intolerance (source). 

Foods high in histamine include (source): 

  • Aged cheese
  • Alcohol
  • Avocado
  • Banana
  • Canned Foods
  • Cashew
  • Chic Peas
  • Cinnamon 
  • Citrus fruits
  • Eggplant
  • Kefir
  • Lentils
  • Sauerkraut
  • Pickled Foods
  • Processed Foods
  • Processed Meats
  • Smoked Meats
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries
  • Tomato
  • Vinegar
  • Walnuts
  • Yogurt
avocado, aged cheese and tomatoes on a white plate

Help For Avocado Allergy, Avocado Sensitivity & Avocado Intolerance

Like most things in life, when you have more information you can make better choices.

Here is some information on how to avoid avocado and how to replace avocado in your diet.

Hidden Sources Of Avocado

Avocado is a versatile food and may be used as a topping, main ingredient or as a dietary fat. Avocado oil is on the rise in restaurants because it has a high smoke point and a stable shelf life. 

 Be sure to always read labels, and ask for menu ingredients at restaurants. 

Avocado oil may also be used in cosmetics and personal care products. 

Be on the lookout for avocados in the following foods: 

  • As a garnish on soups
  • As Avocado Oil 
  • Guacamole
  • On salads
  • On sandwiches
  • In many cuisines 
  • In vegan and paleo products including butter alternatives, dressings and baked goods.
guacamole in a bowl with torilla chips on a blue background for avocado allergy

Avocado Alternatives

There’s no one “go to” avocado alternative, so before making a substitution, consider what function of avocado you are replacing.

Avocado may be used for its green color, as a dietary fat, as a topping and for a thick, creamy and smooth texture.

Here are some foods that may be used as an avocado alternative (source) (source).  

  • Banana – mashed banana will provide a similar texture but different flavor 
  • Chayote Squash 
  • Edamame – can be blended in to a guacamole style dip 
  • Green Peas – can be blended in to a guacamole style dip
  • Artichoke Hearts – as a salad topping
  • Heart Of Palm – as a salad topping 
  • Hummus
  • Nut Butters (Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew Butter)
  • Sunflower Seed Butter
avocado allergy alternatives infographic with avocados displayed

Alternatives to Avocado Oil

In Salads and Low Heat Cooking:

These oils add flavor and texture to recipes. 

  • Coconut Oil
  • Butter
  • Olive Oil
  • Sesame Oil (definitely a strong flavor! Use just a little for flavor.)
coconuts and coconut oil displayed on dark background

For High Temperature Cooking: 

These oils generally work well when cooking at high temperatures. 

  • Safflower Oil
  • Rice Bran Oil
  • Soy Bean Oil
  • Peanut Oil
  • Corn Oil
  • Canola Oil
corn on the cob and corn oil displayed on a light background

Be sure to check labels for hidden ingredients.

Bottom Line

If you know or suspect that you can’t eat avocado due to an allergy, sensitivity, or other intolerance, help is available.

In case of severe symptoms or difficulty breathing, seek urgent medical attention. 

We recommend working with an Allergist, Registered Dietitian, or Certified Leap Therapist to identify which foods are safest for you and which foods you should avoid. A skin prick test (a type of allergy test) and/or blood testing may be helpful. 

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do you have an avocado allergy pinterest graphic, avocados displayed on a lime green background


Authors

  • Dr. Lisa Hugh DHA MSHS RD LDN CLT

    Dr. Lisa Hugh is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Leap Therapist. She is a Doctor of Healthcare Administration and has a Master's of Science in Healthcare Administration. As a Food Sensitivity Expert, her passion is helping people with complex medical and nutrition needs find food and groceries that are safe and enjoyable. Lisa enjoys helping clients in her private practice.

  • Kristen Rohrer DHSc. CNS LDN

    Kristen Rohrer has a doctorate degree in Health Sciences. She is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Licensed Dietitian and Physician Assistant. Her specialties are pediatric nutrition, women's health, nutrition as preventative medicine.

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6 thoughts on “Avocado Allergy 101: What You Need to Know about Avocado Intolerance”

  1. I relate to Sean’s comments a lot! My stomach pain, even if the food touched for a second and it looks like I didn’t eat any was severe. I also found the oil in my shampoo was causing my head to itch and my face to get a light rash.

    Reply
  2. I’m also allergic to latex and bananas. Eating a banana or avocado will induce immediate and uncontrolled vomiting. It’s awful. The smell makes my stomach churn.

    Reply
  3. Just a warning that I am highly allergic to both avocado and banana, which my allergist said were related allergens. If you are sensitive to avocados, please be very careful before substituting banana as recommended. Also take care with papaya, latex, kiwifruit, and water chestnut, which all share related allergens (and yes, I react badly to them all). Eating any of the above (obviously I don’t eat latex!) gives me the mother of all stomachaches, and I writhe around on the floor and sweat and vomit for about 6 hours, for those of you who don’t believe food allergies are real. It’s real agony. 🙁

    Reply
  4. Hello. I’ve noticed that a lot folks don’t believe it’s an allergy. “Oh yeah that’s right, you don’t like avocado.” Infuriating.
    Figuring out I have both allergies started with guacamole making my mouth feel weird; followed by multiple bouts of what I thought was food poisoning. Until I noticed that common denominator. Every encounter my symptoms seem to worsen. Even if I scraped it off, the residue was enough.

    Except for a couple times I was served something cooked in avocado oil.

    No mouth weirdness, no stomach agony. I don’t understand how.

    Anybody else?

    Reply
    • Hi Sean,
      Thank you so much for your comment. I agree that comments like this can be infuriating and also really dangerous. Worsening symptoms with repeated exposure is definitely something that can happen with food allergies.
      As for the avocado oil — sometimes (not always) people can tolerate oils made from foods they are allergic to because the allergens and/or proteins in the whole food are not present in the oil. If you haven’t already, it may be a good idea to see an allergist and ask about a safety plan, especially if you unintentionally eat avocado.

      Reply

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