A tree nut allergy is an abnormal response of the body to the proteins found in tree nuts.
Which foods and ingredients must a tree-nut-allergic person watch out for?
Avoid foods with any of the following ingredients:
- almonds
- Brazil nuts
- cashews
- chestnuts
- filberts/hazelnuts
- gianduja (a creamy mixture of chocolate and chopped toasted nuts found in premium or imported chocolate)
- hickorynuts
- macadamia nuts
- marzipan/almond paste
- nougat
- Nu-Nuts (artificial nuts are peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut such as pecan or walnut)
- nut butters (cashew butter, almond butter)
- nut oil
- nut paste (almond paste)
- pecans
- pine nuts (pignolia, pinion)
- pistachios
- walnuts
- natural extracts, such as pure almond extract. (Imitation or artificially flavored extracts are often safe.)
What else should tree-nut allergy sufferers consider?
- Ethnic foods, commercially prepared baked goods, and candy can often be cross-contaminated with nuts as nuts are frequently used in these types of foods.
- Tree nuts are being added to an increasing variety of foods, such as barbecue sauce, cereal, crackers, and ice cream.
