NUTS

Nuts are a delicious and nutritious food enjoyed by many people, but unfortunately, they are also one of the most common food allergens in the US. Interestingly, an allergy to one tree nut does not necessarily mean a person is allergic to all tree nuts. However, certain tree nuts are closely related, like cashews with pistachios and pecans with walnuts. While an allergy to tree nuts is not the same as an allergy to peanuts, it’s not uncommon for individuals with a peanut allergy to also have an allergy to tree nuts. In fact, up to 40% of people with a peanut allergy are also allergic to tree nuts.

It’s worth mentioning that peanuts are not actually nuts, but rather they are legumes. Nevertheless, peanut products are often processed in the same facility as tree nuts, which means there is a risk of cross-contamination. Nuts can be enjoyed on their own, but they are also frequently used as ingredients in a wide variety of foods.

Main symptoms associated with nuts

• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, wheezing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Itching skin
• Itching of the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, etc.
• Skin conditions such as eczema and urticaria

Main types of nuts and main foods containing nuts

• Almond
• Brazilian nuts
• Cashew nuts
• Chestnut
• Hazelnut
• Macadamia nuts
• Pecan
• Pine nut
• Pistachio
• Walnut

Foods that may contain nuts

• All foods containing nut extract
• Barbecue sauce
• Black walnut extract
• Candy, chocolate
  Cereal
• Cookie
• Energy bar
• Flavored coffee
• Granola
• Ice cream
• Marinade
• Pie crust
• Vegetarian Burger or Meat substitute
• Marzipan/almond paste
• Nut butter
• Nut meal, nut milk, nut oil
• Nutella

Click on the images for more information on each of the top allergen categories.