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?

Is your child also allergic?

I don't think it's as bad as an allergy or even an intolerance for me, but I do get a stomachache and upset stomach from quorn. I can eat other upfs.

I'm not vegetarian but DD is. We don't like the taste generally, but apart from that, it bungs us up no end. I get terrible heartburn on it as well.

It makes me very ill, extreme vomiting and various other issues. I always make sure to check things like veggie sausage rolls in case it's been used. Mycoprotein is derived from a soil fungus so I'm not sure if mushrooms are related- I can eat those fine and also take penicillin type antibiotics

I had totally forgotten my intolerance to Quorn, but probably 20 years ago it took me eating it a couple of times and being very very sick with in an hour or so to make the connection.

I am also now celiac. Diagnosed around 15 years ago and never made a possible connection.

I was told my celiac disease was likely related to my thyroid problems, but maybe there is a further link to Quorn and that sort of food and processing.

I have never had a reaction to Quorn however, whenever I ate it when I was breastfeeding DD and DS (4 years between them both), both babies would have terrible digestive issues. They'd cry and squirm all night and I could hear such loud gurgling in their tummies!
I cut Quorn out of my diet whilst feeding both of them and I haven't eaten it again since having DS. DD and DS were fine if I ate pea protein and other alternatives but mycoprotein always meant a sleepless night!

Gives me the shits but affects DDs breathing, which is an issue as she is a veggie and most veggie food at school and then at Uni in catered halls was Quorn

It is interesting reading about penicillin allergy and quorn. My partner is allergic to penicillin but he eats Quorn probably once a week and is fine with it.

The one person I know that got ill from it is because they have an egg allergy and didn’t realise the product they ate had egg in it. They can eat the quorn products that are vegan though.

I’m vegan and can eat it but I prefer other things, I only really eat if if someone else makes a meal for me.

Yes, the same as you within 6 hours I am confined to the bathroom! It is not pleasant and gets quite painful. I have tried a few times and know it is definitely that.

If your children are the same I would be asking the school to never give it to them.

I’m not allergic I don’t think but it causes bloating and awful trapped wind. Dd2 has ibs and I won’t let her eat it. We call any dish with it in ‘fart spaghetti’ or ‘fart shepherds pie’ it’s grim.

Not at the moment I don’t think. But as others have said you can eat it and be fine and then you can develop allergy.

It’s one that really catches you out. It’s never labelled properly, and some even take pride in concealing it with the surprise announcement after of ‘could you tell’ 🫣

I have an anaphylaxis allergy to quorn. Found that one out the hard way when someone served me lasagne at a dinner party without telling me they had used quorn because its 'just like mince'. Ambulances (plural) were involved. I'm also anaphylactically allergic to penicillin and blue cheese. Found out about blue cheese the hard way at a works event via a cheeseboard. That one also involved an ambulance. I've had NHS allergy testing that shows I unsurprisingly have a problem with mould.

I just love telling people I have life threatening allergies to quorn and blue cheese. Half the time they look at you like you've sprouted antlers and the other half they clearly think youre lying.

I had their vegan chicken slices in a sandwich and woke up that night with stabbing stomach pains so won’t be eating that again

Just circling back to some comments but this stuck out to me! Soil fungus!

I work as a gardener so soil fungus is something I probably have a lot of contact with. I wonder if my body just thinks no; that lives in soil with other nasty things. We are not having that in the body. Get it out!

And so sorry! This is worst case scenario. I hate people think these ‘veggie’ things are harmless. Peanuts are veg category and no one thinks they are harmless so it doesn’t make sense.

You will be pleased to know I once wrote BBC a scathing complaint because they were tricking people into eating ‘veggie’ burgers masquerading as meat on this programme called Vegansville. I didn’t get a reply 😂

That sounds terrifying!!!

I’m also allergic to it these days, used to be fine but it’s since hospitalised me as I was already ill, and was so sick I had to be put on a drip and anti sickness to get fluids back in me

I’m fine with mushrooms and penicillin but Quorn results in exorcist level projectile vomiting within the hour! I avoid it now that I am aware…..