Tree Nut Allergies

Posted by dxavier on August 25, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

foodallergyby Shereen Jegtvig

If you look at the list of allergens on our FoodEssentials tool, you’ll see tree nuts on the list.  So which nuts are tree nuts?  Peanuts are not on the list because they don’t grow on trees (actually they’re members of the legume family).  Common tree nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, filberts (or hazelnuts), macademia nuts, pecan, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts.  Less common tree nuts include beechnuts, ginkgo, shea nuts, butternuts, and lychee nuts.  Coconuts are also consided as tree nuts and must be labels that way, however coconut allergies appear to be very rare.

What if you are allergic to any tree nuts?  You’ll have to avoid them, and it isn’t always as easy as staying way from cans of nuts.  You might find them hiding as ingredients in other foods like cereals, cookies, crackers, candy, snacks and desserts.  Although allergies involve reactions to the proteins found in the nuts, there may be traces of the proteins in oils made from the nuts, so if you are allergic to tree nuts, you’ll need to avoid the oils too.  Read more

Possibly Related Posts:


Filed under Allergies, Food Tips · Tagged with , , ,

Are Food Allergies On The Rise?

Posted by dxavier on July 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

foodallergyTwenty years ago, as a child with an allergy to cow’s milk and a vegetarian, gluten-intolerant mother, I saw some strange school lunches in my time. While other kids feasted on all the things I wasn’t allowed to eat (White bread! Soda! Weird, processed cheese that comes in a tube!), I cowered in the corner with my nutmeat sandwiches on rye bread with soy butter, cursing my over-excitable histamines.

Yes, I was THAT kid at school – that is, until Peanut Allergy Boy arrived and stole my thunder. At the time, we felt like the odd ones out. Now, it seems as though many more people have (or are aware of) food intolerance and allergies. Some countries are encouraging peanut-free school environments, and more and more restaurants are offering allergen-free options on their menus.

These days, do more people actually have food allergies, or does it just seem that way? If so, is this increase due to our environment, changes in diet and lifestyle or our genes? Although population data for allergy prevalence are difficult to collect, a recent scientific study (Branum & Lukacs, 2008) indicates that incidences of food allergy are most likely increasing, although an explanation for this trend has yet to emerge.

What are allergies? Who has them, and why don’t we know more? Read more

Possibly Related Posts:


Filed under Allergies, Industry Watch · Tagged with , ,

Folate and Food Allergies

Posted by dxavier on May 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

exclamation-125x2001by Shereen Jegtvig

A recent study reported in WebMd.com shows a possible correlation between blood levels of folate (a B vitamin) and allergies.  Full-blown folate deficiencies are uncommon in the United States because breads and cereals are fortified with folic acid, which is the dietary supplemental form of folate.  What’s interesting is that this study shows that even having lower than average blood levels of folate may be related to having more allergies.

You Want Folate, But Not Additives and Allergens

Folate is naturally found in… Read more

Possibly Related Posts:


Filed under Allergies, Uncategorized · Tagged with ,

List of Peanut Free Pretzels

Posted by axavier on January 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

pretzel-125x125Another list in our series of Peanut Free Snacks is this list of 77 Pretzels. In total there are 5 products that contain peanuts, and 7 products that “may contain” peanuts. In the products that contain peanuts the offending ingredient was either peanuts themselves or peanut filling. In total there are 65 Peanut Free products in this list. Read more

Possibly Related Posts:


Filed under Allergies, Uncategorized · Tagged with , ,

Next Page »