Peanut

What is a Peanut Allergy?
Peanuts are legumes and are botanically related to other legumes such as soy, lentils, fresh and dried peas and beans, licorice and carob. To be safe, most experts recommend that peanut-allergic patients also avoid tree-nuts such as walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, etc.

Peanut allergy is caused by an immune reaction against the proteins in peanuts. Peanut allergy results when antibodies against peanut allergens are produced by the immune system. The combination of the allergen and antibody produces a series of reactions and symptoms typical to an allergic reaction.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms of peanut allergy include hives, tissue swelling, wheezing, asthma, vomiting, runny nose, itching, nausea, eye irritation.

Treatment
Reactivity to peanuts is usually a life-long allergy. Peanuts can cause a fatal allergic reaction, so your doctor may advise you to avoid any products containing nuts.  Keep in mind that prepared foods and restaurant foods can be contaminated with peanuts or peanut oil during cooking and handling.

A totally peanut-free diet is necessary if there is a known or suspected allergy to peanut.  It is essential that a totally peanut-free diet be followed indefinitely if a person has been diagnosed as anaphylactic to peanuts.  All products containing or having components of peanuts must be avoided. 

How to read a Food Label for a Peanut-Free Diet
Fortunately, a new food labeling law now requires food manufacturers to disclose in plain language whether products contain any of the top eight food allergens.  Peanuts can be found in many foods.  For your information, below is a list of foods that contain peanut.

Arachis oil
Artificial nuts
Goober nuts
Goober peas
Hydrolyzed peanut protein
Mandalona nut
Mixed nuts
Peanut butter
Peanut flour
Peanut oil
Peanut protein

Some Hidden Sources of Peanut

• Artificial nuts can be peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut, such as pecan or walnut. Mandalonas are peanuts soaked in almond flavoring.
• Arachis oil is peanut oil.
• It is advised that peanut-allergic patients avoid chocolate candies unless they are absolutely certain there is no risk of cross-contact during manufacturing procedures.
• African, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes often contain peanuts, or are contaminated with peanuts during preparation of these types of meals.
• Foods sold in bakeries and ice cream shops are often in contact with peanuts. 
• Many brands of sunflower seeds are produced on equipment shared with peanuts.

Shopping Tips

• Label reading and extreme caution is absolutely necessary.
• Contact the manufacturer if you have any questions. 
• There is often cross-contamination with peanuts in bulk nut bins.  Utensils used to handle peanuts are often used with other nuts without prior cleaning.  It is advisable to buy plain nuts packaged be the manufacturer.
• Candies, confectionaries, desserts, and ice cream containing “nuts” may also contain peanuts and should be avoided.