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.
