Allergenic Risk Assessment of Hemp Seed

Cannabis sativa is an annual herbaceous plant from the Cannabaceae family that has been cultivated and consumed by humans for thousands of years. Its main uses include fiber production, seeds for human and animal food, and psychoactive medications. Indeed, cannabis is the most commonly consumed illicit substance among adolescents and poses a major public health issue. Allergic risks associated with cannabis have already been documented.

At the same time, the consumption of hemp seeds is increasing due to the current agro-food context and the rise of vegan and vegetarian diets. This new food raises questions about its potential allergic risks, especially since the prevalence and severity of food allergies have been steadily increasing over the years. In this context, cases of anaphylaxis related to hemp seeds have already been reported. However, the potential allergic risk associated with hemp seeds remains largely unstudied to date.

Several reasons make research into hemp seed allergies relevant:

i) increased exposure to Cannabis sativa in its various forms, with the possibility of finding identical or similar proteins in the seeds; ii) changes in dietary habits, with the vegan trend encouraging the consumption of many seeds, including hemp seeds.