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Who’s allergic or intolerant to Quorn (mycoprotein) ?

93 replies

QuestioningQuorn · 25/09/2025 21:04

Inspired by a few threads of late; who is allergic or intolerant to Quorn? Or unbranded it is called mycoprotein.

I am. Took a few times to figure it out (TMI - projectile vomiting about 6 hours later). And have been subsequently caught out a few times eating as a guest.

It sent me down a rabbit hole about mycoprotein. Some studies say it is a more common allergen than even peanuts; yet many haven’t been exposed to it enough or ever for it to be commonly known yet.

So I checked the school dinners and it’s on there 3 times a week; plus ‘Plant x’ which no idea what that contains so potentially all of the meals. Should I be asking for no Quorn options for my kiddo? The more you eat it the more likely sensitivities and then allergies develop. And they can do rapidly and quite severely apparently. I avoid it as much as I can! Is this sensible for my kids or is this crazy parent realm?

OP posts:
BeHappySloth · 26/09/2025 22:35

I reacted very badly to it on a few occasions (projectile vomiting!) and avoided eating it for years. Then ate it by mistake a couple of times and was fine. I think I'm now able to tolerate it but I avoid it wherever possible. I don't like fake meat anyway.

My late mother used to eat it quite happily but suddenly developed a severe intolerance to it.

Spudlover · 26/09/2025 22:29

Not me but DH. Projectile vomiting and stomach pains for a few hours after eating it, no other allergies.

I don’t eat it these days either and neither do DC, we have no reactions but are a bit scared of it now!

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 26/09/2025 22:19

Not been really sick, but years ago Quorn really gave me stomach ache.

Stopped eating it straight away.

TheWrongReasons · 26/09/2025 19:11

I know someone who gets stomach ache after eating it so avoids it, but they also can’t eat eggs, beef, pork, celery, sesame, shellfish and peppers. They’re also allergic to lots of toiletries and cleaning products.

Vetiver · 26/09/2025 19:01

I ate it with no issues for a few years when I was vegetarian but then developed an intolerance to it (which took me quite a while to figure out!). I now also can’t eat mushrooms or sourdough and have to be careful with yeasts and fresh bread.
it gives me agonising stomach ache and food poisoning type symptoms for a few days 🙁

NCJD · 26/09/2025 18:41

Not allergic but intolerant. Get dreadful D+V a couple of hours after eating it.

EsmaCannonball · 26/09/2025 18:38

I'm allergic to it. I'm a vegetarian who tends not to eat much fake meat so I only used to eat it rarely (usually when someone else had made a meal or when it was the only veggie option on a menu). I would get indigestion after eating it or feel nauseous or be sick and was suspicious that Quorn didn't agree with me, but not certain. Then somebody gave me the Quorn version of sliced cooked ham, the kind of Quorn you don't have to cook. I was so ill afterwards I thought I might end up in hospital. I was sick, ached all over, turned grey, and went shivery and freezing. It was awful. I googled it and found out it was a fairly common allergy that Quorn were trying to play down.

Pollyanna87 · 26/09/2025 18:35

I’ve had Quorn twice, and both times I was horrendously ill. Took me the second time to realise it was the Quorn that did it. Not just awful vomiting, but also sensitivity to light and inability to move! Second worst I’ve ever felt, after being in labour.

QuinoafromKew · 26/09/2025 18:34

Ah @The13thFairy I point you to my user name and my thread.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/thirty_days_only/5409990-anyone-experienced-rapid-digestive-transit-after-eating-quinoa?page=2&reply=147138382
I never knew this could happen. I do now!

I'm fine with Quorn.

CaptainMyCaptain · 26/09/2025 18:29

I can't eat it. It triggers my IBS. I've tried it several times as DH does not eat meat.

Womanofcustard · 26/09/2025 18:27

Quorn is made of mushroom protein. I think if you can eat mushrooms but not quorn, it might be something else in the Quorn that you are sensitive to. I eat it several times a week, pieces and fillets, but once had a bad stomach ache after eating Quorn mince, which I now avoid. TVP or Soya mince is ok for me.

OneFunnyPearlTurtle · 26/09/2025 18:20

It really upsets my stomach, I get a high temperature and headache then projectile vomit a couple of hours later. I can eat mushrooms without any problems. I’ve since developed a gluten tolerance

kiwiane · 26/09/2025 13:38

I get terrible stomach ache and avoid it; knowing more about UPF food I’d no longer buy it even if it didn’t make me ill.

AhBiscuits · 26/09/2025 12:24

socialdilemmawhattodo · 26/09/2025 11:48

FTW?

For the win.

AhBiscuits · 26/09/2025 12:24

I'm not allergic but it does not agree with me at all. Last time I had it I had horrible stomach pain and wind.

dancinfeet · 26/09/2025 12:21

both quorn and soya give me the runs, so I avoid all meat substitutes for this reason.

RememberBeKindWithKaren · 26/09/2025 11:51

Oh wow sorry to see this OP. I've been eating it for decades with no reactions. My sons ok with it too. Sorry Op

socialdilemmawhattodo · 26/09/2025 11:48

LemondrizzleShark · 25/09/2025 23:51

DH gets awful stomach cramping from it. I’m fine with Quorn but react to Beyond Meat - don’t know what is different ingredient-wise.

Cauldron sausages FTW.

FTW?

The13thFairy · 26/09/2025 09:37

i find a little bit's ok, but a meal based on it will leave me wishing I hadn't eaten it. Same with quinoa.

Aussiegold · 26/09/2025 08:05

Depending on how much, upset stomach to projectile vomit and diarrhea. Took me 2 years to work out what caused it as I didn't eat it very often and not always labelled.

Not allergic to anything else.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 26/09/2025 08:02

Queens a mold and high processed too.

user1471538283 · 26/09/2025 07:55

I cannot get on with Quorn. My skin is very sensitive anyway but it makes me itch really badly. I didn't know the link between mould, penicillin and Quorn - I'm allergic to penicillin!

DisplayPurposesOnly · 26/09/2025 07:45

Wow, this is fascinating. I dont know if I've ever eaten Quorn, but I'm allergic to amoxicillin, react badly to erythromycin and have type 2 diabetes. But happily eat mushrooms without issue.

I feel like I should experiment with quorn - at home, on a not busy day... 😆

Bingbangboo · 26/09/2025 07:17

This is a really interesting thread. My mum can't eat quorn as she gets terrible cramps afterwards. I'm a vegetarian, so eat a fair bit of it, but without fail I always get hiccups after eating quorn sausages. Maybe I should stop joking about one day being killed by a quorn sausage now!

WhenIAmKing · 26/09/2025 06:06

Yes I’m intolerant and told school my kids aren’t allowed to eat it. They seemed baffled by this and say nobody else has ever objected! It’s on the menu 3x a week but the school is good at keeping track of what different kids are allowed so they’ve never eaten it.