Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Tree Nut Allergy Diet
The key to an allergy-free diet is to avoid giving your child the foods or products containing the food he/she is allergic to. The items that your child is allergic to are called allergens.
A tree nut allergy is an abnormal response of the body to the proteins found in tree nuts. In order to avoid foods that contain tree nuts, it is important to read food labels.
Be sure to avoid foods that contain 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)
- hickory nuts
- macadamia nuts
- marzipan/almond paste
- nougat
- Nu-Nuts™ artificial nuts
- nut butters (i.e., cashew butter, almond butter)
- nut oil
- nut paste (i.e., almond paste)
- pecans pine nuts (pignolia, pinion)
- pistachios
- walnuts
- Nu-Nuts™ artificial nuts are peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut such as pecan or walnut.
- Filberts are hazelnuts.
- Avoid natural extracts such as pure almond extract, and natural wintergreen extract (for the child who is filbert/hazelnut allergic).
- Use imitation or artificially flavored extracts.
- Ethnic foods, commercially prepared baked goods, and candy can be cross-contaminated with nuts since nuts are frequently used in these types of foods.
- Tree nuts are being added to an increasing variety of foods such as barbecue sauces, cereals, crackers, and ice creams.
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Disclaimer:
This information is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your child's physician. The content provided on this page is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your child's physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.
Last reviewed on 9/30/2005