Black Pepper

Black pepper may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. 

Black pepper is made from the tiny fruits of Piper nigrum, a plant with origins in South Asia. The little stone fruits are fermented, cooked, and dried until their skins have shriveled. The resulting peppercorns may be black, green, or white, depending on how the fruits are processed. Piper nigrum has an ancient history as a culinary spice and an early preservative—its anti-microbial properties and pungent flavor are the result of a special chemical in the spice called piperine. Today, black pepper is one of the most common seasonings worldwide and a key ingredient in spice blends like baharat, garam masala, jerk seasoning, and ras el hanout.

Yes. Black pepper is generally recognized as safe when used in amounts typical in cooking. While black pepper is used medicinally in certain parts of the world, there is limited research on the safety of black pepper supplements and essential oils for babies, so avoid serving these forms of the spice.

Contrary to popular belief, babies can have big flavors from spices and other foods as soon as they start solids. Just keep the amounts small so that baby can get used to a spice’s assertive taste and so they can experience the flavor of the rest of the dish.

Yes. While usually not consumed in nutritionally significant amounts, black pepper offers trace amounts of vitamins A, C, E, as well as other important vitamins and minerals. One of its compounds, piperine, may help our bodies absorb iron and calcium when the two are eaten together. Plus, black pepper offers many other benefits, including protecting cells with its antioxidant, antitumor, and antibacterial properties.

★Tip: Storing black pepper away from sunlight helps retain its flavor.

No. Allergies to black pepper are rare, but have been reported. If your child has other food allergies, read the label of any spice blend carefully; certain spice blends that feature black pepper may contain common food allergens, such as nuts or sesame seed. Some specialty pepper blends also include pink peppercorn in addition to black and white peppercorns – this can cause cross-reactive allergy for individuals with cashew or pistachio allergy. Individuals with Oral Allergy Syndrome, particularly those who are allergic to mugwort pollen or celery, may be sensitive to multiple spices, including black pepper. This is known as mugwort-celery-spice syndrome. Oral Allergy Syndrome typically results in short-lived itching, tingling, or burning in the mouth and is unlikely to result in a dangerous reaction.

Even though black pepper allergy is uncommon, spices can cause symptoms that are similar to allergic reactions. For example, inhaling a puff of powdered black pepper can irritate the nasal passages and trigger sneezing and coughing due to an irritant response, rather than an allergic reaction. Additionally, certain spices, like black pepper, may cause contact rashes due to potentially skin-irritating components in the food.

It is common for babies to develop a rash around their mouths after eating spicy foods such as black pepper. A rash around the mouth after contact with spicy foods is typically just a skin irritation and is rarely an actual allergic reaction. Spicy foods like black pepper may also cause or worsen diaper rash. As black pepper is generally used in very small quantities, the risk of a severe contact rash is low. If your baby has sensitive skin, talk to your baby’s doctor about applying a thin layer of barrier cream or ointment—such as pure petroleum jelly or a plant-based oil/wax balm—to baby’s face and diaper area. This layer of protection will help prevent contact rashes by serving as a barrier between the skin and the potentially irritating components of food.

As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity for the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals.

No. Black pepper presents a low risk when safely prepared for a child’s age and developmental ability, though, in theory, an individual could choke on any food. To reduce the risk, remove whole peppercorns from a dish before serving to baby, and prepare and serve black pepper in an age-appropriate way as described in the How to Serve section. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. 

Learn the signs of choking and gagging and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.

It’s flexible. Generally speaking, bring baby to the table at least once per day between 6 and 7 months of age, twice per day between 8 and 9 months of age, and 3 times per day starting at around 10 months of age. See our sample feeding schedules for details.

Knowledge and practice with rescue maneuvers. Parents and caregivers who watch the choking and rescue videos in our Starting Solids bundle often share how confident they feel.