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

[QuestioningQuorn]

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?

I have the same reaction, it’s gotten worse each time I’ve had it. I did read ages ago it’s not classed as an allergen but not sure if that’s still the case.

I am not allergic but definitely does not agree with me. I am pescatarian, but cannot eat any meat substitutes(mostly wouldn't want to) I wouldn't want kids to eat it.

3 times a week? Is this a vegan school menu?

It can’t be classed as an allergen if it’s the main item for 3 - potentially all meals in school dinner V / VG option.

@34ransum

No it’s an open menu. So each morning the teacher brings the menu and asks what they want. I just looked and unfortunately the Quorn is dressed up quite appetisingly that my 3 year old would choose it in all likelihood on numerous days. Ie. Quorn Hotdog, ‘Quorn burger’ ‘Quorn Dippers’. He’s just going to hear hotdog, burger and dippers here.

I am also intolerant to quorn and have been caught out in restaurants when they haven’t labelled meat substitutes as quorn - my own fault for not asking really but it is usually listed as an ingredient.

Has your child ever eaten quorn? I had a reaction the first time I ate it as a kid, unfortunately for me, I ate it a few times before my mum realised it was an allergy and not sickness bugs lol!

My DS is allergic to it.

I used to cook with it sometimes years ago so bought some recently and I also projectile vomited it up straight away. It was very odd and I won’t be eating it again.

Ah, fair enough. I don't think my son's school have ever had it on the menu, but they have a separate vegan menu so that could be why. I like to think I have a super varied and healthy diet but I honestly don't think I've ever tried it! I do remember picking up a pack once to read the label and was surprised to see a warning along the lines of 'This food can be an allergen for many people'

A quick google tells me that people with a mould sensitivity can become allergic to Quorn. I have a sensitivity to aspergillus so perhaps that is why it made me sick. Many thanks for bringing this up (no pun meant!) OP.

It makes me violently ill. Not sure if it was a coincidence but it was after the first Quorn incidence I developed Crohn's disease

I ate it a couple of times as a student when we had no other food left, after the second time I realised that was what had given me a really dodgy stomach and terrible pains. After lockdown DD’s nursery had it on the menu a couple of times a week and I had to ask them not to feed it to her as it made her poorly too. I have a similar (but more extreme) reaction to chickpeas.

I can't eat mushrooms or truffles or quorn

I'm allergic to penicillin and amoxicillin too

I get bad asthma in autumn when the leaves shed and moulds are high

I'm not suprised by these accounts.

I’ve eaten it for years with no ill effects. Nobody I know has has an allergy to it either and it’s routinely served in schools and restaurants

I'm allergic to it - and to penicillin too. It took me a while to realise it but a particularly nasty incident with a Quorn bolognaise left no doubt. Horrendous!

My son is allergic to quorn and mushrooms (possibly others things too - unknown atm.)

I've noticed it's on school menus and kids menus everywhere 🥲 not sure why quorn is the go to meat free option?! There's plenty of meat alternatives that are soy based or pea protein based for example.

I do not look forward to him starting school and me having to bring this up with the catering company (we don't eat meat.)

I seem ok for quorn, use it quite a lot. But have a very odd reaction to pea protein - sainsbury seem to use this in their own range of meat substitutes. The link to allergies of mould and certain types of antibiotics is interesting.

These are interesting points. Also the leaf mould. Fascinating!

I don’t know if I am allergic to mould. I try not to spend much time near it. Also no antibiotics allergies.

Weirdly my only other food allergen is blackberry (again delayed projectile vomiting); a severe systemic reaction to the MRNA covid jab (whole body rash and swelling), and recently a bad localised reaction to my first ever bee sting.

@socialdilemmawhattodo I do wish that ‘plant’ or non meat items were properly labelled. I do like to eat non meat things and am open to all these options. But it’s impossible to find out clearly what’s in some of this stuff. It’s really not on.

And sorry to hear this. I hope you are keeping as well as you can.

Oh wow yes here it is.. fascinating!

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9568318/
Recent Advances in the Allergic Cross-Reactivity between Fungi and Foods

I can't eat the stuff either...very bad stomach reaction.

I’m not allergic to anything except codeine, but quorn and every meat substitute I’ve ever tried give me the runs and a headache. I eat mushrooms regularly.

A couple of years ago I was all alone with my daughter and baby and I ate it…face swelling eye itching and my throat felt like it was narrowing…had sister get some pills from the chemist for allergic reactions…honestly thought I was going to die…never had it again. I’d rather have proper veg as a sub.

My Brother has the same reaction, and worse each time he's had it.

It’s also an ultra processed food, I do eat it and like it but wouldn’t eat it 3x a week. It gives dh an upset stomach.

Gosh you definitely need to visit the doctor about that and maybe get an EpiPen? (Do they work on this?!)

It’s really easy to eat this accidentally unfortunately and as some say subsequent reactions can get quickly worse. Please don’t leave that.