Can I Eat Chickpeas if I’m Allergic to Peanuts?
AllergiesFood Allergies

Can I Eat Chickpeas if I’m Allergic to Peanuts?

Can I Eat Chickpeas if I’m Allergic to Peanuts?
iStock
By
Tricia Ballad
Updated on January 21, 2026
by

Food allergies occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks food proteins, causing the body to release large amounts of histamine and other immune chemicals. The body releases these chemicals so suddenly that a person can have a life-threatening allergic reaction within moments of eating a trigger food.

Up to 33 million Americans may have food allergies, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Peanut and tree nut allergies are the third and fourth most common types of food allergies, respectively. However, as chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are legumes, similar to peanuts, some people are cautious about choosing chickpeas and foods like hummus if they have a peanut allergy.

Should You Avoid Chickpeas if You Have a Peanut Allergy?

Unless you have had an allergic reaction to chickpeas, you don’t necessarily need to avoid them if you have a peanut or tree nut allergy. Having a peanut allergy doesn’t definitely mean you have a chickpea allergy, although the two legumes contain similar proteins.

Peanut and soybean allergies are more common than chickpea allergies, but chickpea allergies may be more common in regions where people eat more chickpeas.

However, around 1 in 20 people with an allergy to a particular legume may have an allergy to another, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Despite this, most people with peanut allergies tolerate other legumes without a reaction. People with other allergies, asthma, or eczema might also be more likely to have a chickpea allergy.

Speak to your doctor about testing for potential allergies, as they’ll be able to determine which foods trigger an allergic reaction for you.

Peanut and Tree Nut Allergies: How Are They Related?

Peanuts are members of the legume family, like lentils, soybeans, and chickpeas. They are not a type of nut, but a person may have allergies to legumes as well as nuts.

Peanut allergies can be life-threatening, although reactions range from mild to severe. Most people with a peanut allergy can tolerate tree nuts, including almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, and pistachios. However, around 3 in 10 people with a peanut allergy are also allergic to tree nuts.

If you have an allergy to one tree nut, you may not be allergic to other tree nuts. However, some tree nuts, such as pistachios and cashews or pecans and walnuts, have a close link and can cross-react.

Discuss known allergies with an allergist, as they can test for other nuts that may cause you to have an allergic reaction.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Additional Sources
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
jon-stahlman-bio

Jon E. Stahlman, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Jon E. Stahlman, MD, has been a practicing allergist for more than 25 years. He is currently the section chief of allergy and immunology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta's Scottish Rite campus and the senior physician at The Allergy & Asthma Center in Atlanta. He served as the president of the Georgia Allergy Society, has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, and was listed as a Top Doctor by Atlanta magazine. His research interests include new therapies for asthma and allergic rhinitis as well as the use of computerized monitoring of lung function.

He received his bachelor's and medical degrees from Emory University. He completed his pediatric residency at Boston Children’s Hospital and his fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology at Harvard University’s Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. After his training, Dr. Stahlman conducted two years of clinical research at Boston Children’s Hospital and was part of the faculty at Harvard Medical School, where he taught medical students and allergy and immunology fellows.

Stahlman is board-certified and recertified in allergy and clinical immunology. He served as a principal investigator on phase 2 through 4 studies that are responsible for most of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved therapies for allergies and asthma available today.

Outside of the office, he centers his interests around his wife and three daughters, coaching soccer for many years, and his hobbies include cycling and triathlons.

See full bio

Tricia Ballad

Author
Tricia Ballad is a writer, author and project geek. She has written several books including two novels, teaches classes on goal setting and project planning for writers, and loves to cook in her spare time. She is living proof that you can earn a living with a degree in creative writing.
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network