Tree Nut Allergies

by 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

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