Nightshade Allergy Card
Create a personalised nightshade allergy card. Clearly communicate your tomatoes, potatoes, peppers (bell and chili), eggplant, paprika, cayenne allergies to restaurants and food providers.
Allergens Covered
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Peppers (bell and chili)
- Eggplant
- Paprika
- Cayenne
Add your own allergens to fully customise your card
Nightshade sensitivity covers reactions to plants in the Solanaceae family, including tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, aubergine, and chillies. While not always a true IgE-mediated allergy, nightshade reactions can cause significant discomfort and, in some cases, severe symptoms. A nightshade allergy card lists the specific foods you need to avoid.
Where Nightshades Hide in Food
Nightshade ingredients are pervasive in modern cooking. Tomato-based sauces, ketchup, paprika, cayenne, and chilli powder are all nightshades. Potato starch is used as a thickener in processed foods. Peppers and aubergine feature heavily in Mediterranean, Indian, and Mexican cuisines. Even tobacco is a nightshade, though the dietary concern is limited to food.
How a Nightshade Allergy Card Helps
Most people have never heard of nightshade allergy, which means food handlers are unlikely to check for it unprompted. A card that lists the specific nightshade foods you react to - tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, etc. - gives kitchen staff a concrete checklist rather than an unfamiliar concept.
When to Use Your Nightshade Allergy Card
Carry your card at restaurants of all types - nightshades are used across virtually every cuisine. Italian, Indian, Mexican, and Thai restaurants are particularly high risk. It is also useful at catered events and canteens where sauces and seasoning blends may contain paprika or tomato without being obvious.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What foods are nightshades?
- Common nightshade foods include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers (bell peppers and chillies), aubergine (eggplant), paprika, and cayenne pepper. Tobacco is also a nightshade but is not a food concern.
- Is nightshade allergy a real allergy?
- Nightshade reactions vary. Some people have a true IgE-mediated allergy, while others have a sensitivity that causes inflammation or digestive symptoms. Either way, an allergy card helps you avoid the foods that cause problems.
- Can I eat sweet potatoes with a nightshade allergy?
- Yes. Despite the name, sweet potatoes are not nightshades - they belong to the morning glory family. They are generally safe for people avoiding nightshades.
Create Your Free Nightshade Allergy Card
Use AllergIQ to create a personalised nightshade allergy card in minutes. Download a digital version for free or order a printed card to carry with you.