Hives after a white chocolate macadamia cookie, or an itchy throat from a nut mix? Macadamia used to be a rare treat in Europe, and now it is in cookies, milks, granola and vegan cheese. Our test checks your blood for IgE antibodies to whole macadamia and to one of its storage proteins, as part of 300 allergens and allergen components, so you can see whether you are sensitised to macadamia and to the nuts it often travels with.
Macadamia comes from an Australian tree in the protea family, a long way botanically from hazelnut, walnut or cashew. For allergy purposes it still counts as a tree nut, and it is on the EU list of nuts that must be declared on food labels.
Like other nuts, macadamia stores protein in its seed for the young plant. These storage proteins, including a 2S albumin, are stable to heat. So roasting and baking do not reliably remove them.
People describe itching or tingling in the mouth and throat, swollen lips, hives, stomach cramps or vomiting, usually within minutes to two hours of eating macadamia. Some report wheezing or feeling faint.
Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing or feeling faint after eating is an emergency. Call 112 (EU) or your local emergency number. Do not wait for a test.
Despite the distant family tree, macadamia sensitisation often shows up next to walnut and hazelnut. A large European study that challenged children with all common nuts found walnut, pecan, hazelnut and macadamia allergy clustering together. A Japanese study of children with macadamia allergy also found cross-reactivity with walnut and hazelnut.
That does not mean every walnut result predicts a macadamia problem, or the other way round. A positive result shows sensitisation, not that you will react. If you have never reacted to macadamia, do not cut it out on a result alone. If you have, take the result to a doctor or allergist.
The lab measures IgE to a whole macadamia extract and to a macadamia 2S albumin on its own. Your lab report gives each a measured value and class, from Negative to Very high, next to walnut, hazelnut, pecan and the rest of the panel. Treat it as a pattern to discuss with your doctor, not a diet plan.
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One finger-prick sample checks IgE to 300 allergens and allergen components, from birch and peanut to cat and house dust mite. Post it to the lab, and about 5 days after it arrives you get a value for every one. Our plain-English guide shows you how to read them. €399 in total, €1.33 per allergen.
Yes. Macadamia is treated as a tree nut in allergy care and in EU food labelling, where it must be declared as an allergen. Botanically it is not closely related to most other nuts, but its sensitisation often appears next to walnut and hazelnut.
Not on a hunch. Some people with walnut sensitisation also show macadamia IgE, many do not. The panel measures both, so you can see your own pattern and take it to a doctor rather than guessing.
Refined oils contain very little protein. Cold-pressed oils and skin products can contain more. If you have reacted to macadamia before, ask your doctor what applies to you.
