Health concerns related to plant-based foods

The production of plants and especially plant proteins plays an increasingly important role due to health benefits in human nutrition and sustainability. Major sources of plant proteins include cereals, pulses, oilseeds, nuts, pseudocereals, tubers, and some fruits and vegetables. Although plant-based foods are generally perceived as positive by consumers, there are some health concerns related to the presence of allergens and endogenous toxins. This chapter briefly introduces adverse reactions to food in general and summarizes the most important aspects of allergens and endogenous toxins in plant-based foods. The most important classes of plant toxins including alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, phenylpropanoids, polyketides, saponins, and terpenoids are discussed.