FDA has issued a Consumer Update (Allergies to a Legume Called Lupin: What You Need to Know) and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions on Lupin and Allergenicity) on lupin, a legume belonging to the same plant family as peanuts. According to the agency, lupin can cause severe allergic reactions, including life-threatening anaphylaxis, in allergic individuals. While some individuals develop an allergy to lupin over time, others may have an allergic reaction on their very first exposure. Persons with peanut allergies are at greater risk of being allergic to lupin.
Because lupin is relatively new in the U.S. food supply, many Americans are not familiar with it. It is becoming more popular, however, because of its use in gluten-free foods. Lupin and ingredients derived from lupin, such as lupin flour and lupin protein, are good substitutes for gluten-containing flours in baked goods and pasta. Lupin is also found as a whole bean (called “lupini beans”) sold in Italian and other ethnic specialty stores. Lupin or lupini beans are a traditional food in Mediterranean and some Asian cuisines.
Lupin and ingredients derived from lupin are required to be listed in the ingredients declaration on food labels. FDA advises consumers, particularly those with peanut allergies, to look for “lupin” or “lupine” on the label.
While lupin is not a “major food allergen,” it seems possible that FDA might consider undeclared lupin to be a food safety hazard that could trigger the need for a recall. The term “major food allergen” is defined as the “Big 8” (i.e., peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, and crustacean shellfish) and any ingredient that contains protein derived from the Big 8, except for: (a) highly refined oils and ingredients derived from highly refined oils, and (b) ingredients that FDA has exempted from the definition of “major food allergen” under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act § 403(w)(7) (21 U.S.C. § 343(w)(7)). Although not a major food allergen, lupin might fall into the category of foods (which includes sulfites, Yellow No. 5 and 6, and MSG) that, although not major food allergens, will typically trigger a recall if present in a food but not declared on the label.
FDA is “actively monitoring” complaints of allergic reactions to lupin.
