On my page "
Where Is the Peanut Hiding?" I list items that pose a
hiddendanger to people allergic to peanuts. A rather obscure food called
Lupin is quickly becoming a more commonly used ingredient and food in Europe and other countries.
Unfortunately many peanut allergic individuals can have an allergic reaction to lupin.
What is lupin?Lupinus commonly called lupine or lupins is a common garden plant genus in the legume family, related to legumes such as peanuts,lentils,beans and peas. There are many different types of lupin.
Some lupin varieties produce seeds which are used in foods. Lupin seed are high in protein. Lupin seeds are being recognized as a cheaper alternative to soy and have the full range of essential amino acids.
Lupin in Food
Newly bred variants of sweet lupins are widely grown in Germany. The seeds are used in sausages, lupi-tofu and lupin flour.
In the Mediterranean the yellow legume seed of lupins are called lupine (lupini) beans. Popular since Roman times, these beans are often soaked in brine and sold in jars like pickles.
Lupinidishes are popular in Italy,Portugal (called "tremocos"), Egypt, Turkey, (called"tirmis). Also eaten in Brazil, Lebanon (called "Zbib"), Spain and Argentine (called "altramuz"). Lupini Beans may be incorporated into a recipe serve at a restaurant.
It is also popular to eat lupini beans as an appetizer.
In many mainland European countries, particularly Italy and France, lupin flour and /or peanut flour may be mixed with wheat flour in baked goods and pasta.
Now researchers in Europe have found newuses for Lupin in low-fat products.
Think low-fat sausage, low-fat ice cream and low-fat baked goods.
Although mostly unknown by American consumers, lupin is used in the U.S. in many gluten-freeandhigh-protein products. It is not widely used in the U,K.
Lupin may cause an allergic reaction if you have a peanut allergy ranging from Hives to anaphylatic reactions.
We are traveling to France and Italy this summer. What should I do in order to protect my son?
The problem for us would be restaurant food; however, we do not know if our peanut allergic son is allergic to Lupin?
Food labelling rules require pre-packed food sold in the UK or the rest of the European Union (EU) to show clearly on the label if it contains lupin (or if one of its ingredients contains it). It’s been approved for use in bread flour in Europe since 1997
I am working with our allergist to see if he can test our son.
I plan to order Select Wisely food allergy translation cards for use on our European holiday.
HELP -I have many Europeans who read this blog. I need your help. If you know of foods that contain lupine please tell me using the Comment box below.
Thank you so very much- Julie
Sources
Food Stadards Agency http://www.food.gov.uk/
http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2010-2011/13/low-fat-lupin-proteins.jsp
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