Spring allergy season has hit Spain super hard once again, with olive pollen, grasses, and cypress triggering sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, and fatigue across the country. Millions of people are turning to antihistamines for relief from the misery that is allergies, but few realise that some traditional Spanish foods may also be adding to their discomfort.

Antihistamines are designed to block the body’s histamine response, certain foods in your favourite tapas naturally contain high levels of histamine or encourage its release. For people already suffering with allergies, the combination can sometimes make symptoms feel worse rather than better.

Why histamine-rich foods matter during allergy season

Histamine is a chemical involved in both the immune system and allergic reactions. During hay fever season, the body already produces more histamine in response to pollen. Some foods, especially aged, cured, fermented, or preserved products also contain histamine.

Although antihistamine medication helps reduce symptoms, experts say large amounts of dietary histamine may still contribute to headaches, flushing, congestion, skin irritation, digestive issues, and tiredness in sensitive people.

According to medical sources people with suspected histamine intolerance or severe seasonal allergies may benefit from temporarily reducing high-histamine foods while symptoms are at a high. 

Traditional Spanish foods highest in histamine

Spain’s Mediterranean diet is widely considered one of the healthiest in the world, but several beloved staples happen to fall into the high-histamine category.

Cured meats

Jamon serrano, chorizo, fuet, salchichon, and other cured meats develop histamine during the ageing and fermentation process. The longer the curing time, the higher histamine levels can become.

For allergy sufferers, large tapas platters filled with cured meats may sometimes contribute to blocked sinuses, headaches, or feelings of fatigue.

Aged cheeses

Mature Manchego, Cabrales, Mahon, and blue cheeses are also known for naturally elevated histamine levels. Fresh cheeses tend to contain less histamine than aged varieties.

Experts note that fermentation and ageing are two of the main drivers behind histamine build-up in foods.

Anchovies and preserved seafood

Boquerones, anchovies, canned tuna, sardines, mussels, and other conservas can also contain significant histamine levels, particularly when preserved for long periods.

Seafood itself is not necessarily the problem, freshness is key. Fresh grilled fish generally contains lower histamine levels than canned or heavily preserved alternatives.

Vinegar-heavy tapas and pickled foods

Popular tapas dishes prepared with vinegar or brine, including olives, pickled vegetables, and boquerones en vinagre, may also trigger symptoms in people sensitive to histamine.

What allergy sufferers should eat instead

Doctors are not advising people to avoid traditional Spanish cuisine entirely. Instead, experts recommend focusing more on fresh foods during peak allergy periods.

Lower-histamine options may include:

• Fresh grilled fish
• Tortilla española
• Fresh chicken
• Rice dishes
• Most fresh vegetables
• Olive oil-based meals
• Fresh goat’s cheese
• Seasonal fruit except citrus for sensitive individuals

When to speak to a doctor

Histamine intolerance is not the same as a food allergy, and many people can eat these foods without any issue at all. However, if allergy symptoms seem unusually severe despite taking antihistamines, diet may be worth discussing with a pharmacist or doctor.

If you are tearing your eyes out and have a streaming nose this season then making a few temporary changes to the tapas menu could help some sufferers breathe a little easier.

Drivers in Spain could soon save thousands of euros on a new car after the government officially launched the new Plan Auto 2030, a replacement for the previous MOVES III scheme. The programme includes grants of up to €5,500 for some vehicles, but the biggest change is how the money will now be applied.

Instead of waiting months for reimbursements or dealing with long administrative procedures, buyers will receive the discount directly at the dealership when purchasing the vehicle.

The new system is designed to make buying electric and low emission vehicles faster and less frustrating at a time when Spain is trying to modernise one of Europe’s oldest vehicle fleets.

The government says the plan is intended to encourage cleaner transport while reducing pollution and accelerating the transition towards more sustainable mobility.

How much money drivers in Spain could receive under the new scheme

For passenger cars, the maximum support available under the new plan will reach €5,500.

That figure combines up to €4,500 in direct public aid plus a mandatory minimum dealership discount of €1,000 applied to the final purchase price.

The exact amount drivers receive will depend on several factors, including the type of vehicle purchased, its efficiency level and whether the model was manufactured in Europe.

The programme mainly focuses on electric and highly efficient vehicles meeting specific environmental standards. Motorcycles and smaller electric vehicles are also included.

Electric motorbikes may qualify for grants of up to €1,100, while electric quadricycles could receive up to €1,500.

Spanish authorities say the system is designed to prioritise vehicles carrying the CERO environmental label.

The programme will also apply retroactively to eligible vehicle purchases made from January 1, 2026, even before the full application platform becomes operational.

The biggest change is that buyers will no longer wait months for the money

One of the main criticisms of previous vehicle grant programmes in Spain was the waiting time. Under older systems like MOVES III, buyers often had to pay the full price upfront and then wait months before eventually receiving the subsidy.

That created frustration for many drivers and uncertainty for dealerships. With Plan Auto 2030, the government wants the aid applied immediately during the purchase process itself.

That means buyers should see the discount directly reflected in the dealership price instead of dealing with long reimbursement procedures afterwards. The government says centralising the management of the grants should help speed up the process and reduce bureaucracy.

For many buyers, that may end up being more important than the grant amount itself.

The previous waiting periods discouraged some people from switching to electric vehicles because the financial advantage often felt too distant or uncertain.

Now the intention is to make the savings visible immediately. Spain plans to dedicate €400 million to the programme in 2026 as part of its wider strategy to promote cleaner transport.

Who can apply for the new Spain car grants

The programme will be open both to private individuals and businesses. Private buyers will generally be limited to one subsidised vehicle, while companies may apply for support covering several vehicles.

Vehicles must meet certain energy efficiency conditions and remain below maximum price limits established under the scheme.

Authorities have also confirmed that eligible vehicles must carry the CERO emissions label. The official digital platform handling applications is still being finalised and is expected to become fully operational between May and June 2026.

Even so, the government says eligible purchases made from January onwards will still qualify retroactively.

The launch comes at a time when Spain is continuing to tighten environmental rules affecting drivers in many cities.

Low Emission Zones are already operating in dozens of urban areas and future restrictions are expected to become stricter for older petrol and diesel vehicles over the coming years. That growing pressure is pushing more drivers to at least consider electric or low emission alternatives, even if many still remain concerned about charging infrastructure, battery prices and the overall cost of switching. The government hopes the new instant discount model will make that transition feel more accessible.

For drivers planning to replace an ageing vehicle in the coming months, the new grants could significantly reduce the final purchase price. But much will likely depend on how smoothly the new system actually works once dealerships and buyers begin using it nationwide.

The leader of Spain’s conservative Popular Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has called for the resignation of Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska (Spain’s interior minister) following the deaths of two Guardia Civil officers during an operation against suspected drug traffickers off the coast of Huelva.

Speaking during a political event in Andalucía on Friday, Feijóo also pledged to declassify documents linked to the Spanish government’s migrant regularisation plans if the PP returns to power nationally.

The comments came during a day of mourning after two officers died when their patrol vessel was involved in a collision during a pursuit linked to narco-trafficking operations near the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, close to the province of Huelva in southern Spain.

Officers died during anti-drug trafficking operation

Two Guardia Civil officers died during an operation targeting a suspected narco-boat near Huelva province. Drug trafficking by high-powered speedboats, known in Spain as “narcolanchas”, has become a growing security issue along parts of the southern coast. The vessels are frequently used to transport hashish and other illegal substances between North Africa and Spain.

The incident has renewed political debate over the resources available to officers working in anti-trafficking operations. Feijóo accused the government led by Pedro Sánchez of failing to provide sufficient support and protection for security forces operating in high-risk coastal areas. During his speech, the PP leader said Grande-Marlaska should resign over what he described as failures in security policy and the management of anti-drug operations.

Spain’s Interior Ministry has not announced any intention for the minister to step down.

Feijóo promises to declassify migrant regularisation documents

Alongside his criticism over the deaths of the officers, Feijóo also focused heavily on immigration policy. The opposition leader promised that a future PP government would declassify information related to the current administration’s migrant regularisation plans. In Spain, “regularisation” refers to legal processes allowing undocumented migrants already living in the country to obtain legal residency or work status under certain conditions.

Migration policy has become an increasingly divisive issue in Spanish politics, particularly in regions facing increased migrant arrivals by sea or pressure on reception systems.

The Sánchez government has defended its migration policies as necessary for humanitarian reasons and labour market demands, while opposition parties have accused it of lacking transparency over long-term immigration planning. Feijóo said the public had a right to know the details surrounding the government’s discussions and decisions on the issue. The Spanish government has not publicly stated that any classified migrant regularisation programme exists, although migration agreements and administrative planning documents are commonly handled internally between ministries and European institutions.

Political pressure grows over security and migration

The remarks reflect continuing tensions between Spain’s government and opposition over immigration, organised crime and public security. The Popular Party has repeatedly criticised the government’s handling of organised drug trafficking in Andalucía, arguing that criminal groups have become increasingly violent and better equipped in recent years. Police unions and Guardia Civil associations have also raised concerns over staffing levels, equipment and working conditions in some coastal areas heavily affected by trafficking activity.

The government has defended its security policies and says it has increased resources dedicated to combating organised crime networks operating in southern Spain. The deaths of the officers have prompted tributes from political leaders across the country, with officials from multiple parties expressing condolences to the families, colleagues and members of the Guardia Civil.

The incident is expected to intensify political debate surrounding Spain’s immigration policies, anti-drug operations and coastal security measures in the months ahead.

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