As food allergies go, nut allergies are among the most common. The symptoms of food allergies can range from mild to severe, and include itching, hives, swelling in the mouth or throat and even difficulty breathing. The Mayo Clinic notes that while mild allergies may not require treatment, allergic reactions that cause constriction of the airways, loss of blood pressure or a rapid pulse constitute medical emergencies. There are several categories of nuts that can cause food allergies, both mild and severe.
Peanuts
According to the Food Allergy Initiative, or FAI, peanut allergies are among the most common food allergies and tend also to be among the most severe. Peanuts, unlike tree nuts, fall into the legume family. Their close relatives include beans, lentils, soy beans and green peas. Some individuals with peanut allergies may experience allergic reactions or sensitivity to other members of the legume group as well. Peanut allergies generally persist throughout life, notes the FAI, despite the fact that children can outgrow many other food allergies. The Mayo Clinic recommends that people who have had an allergic reaction to an unknown food keep careful track of what they eat using a food diary. If peanuts appear to be the culprit, they may consider undergoing testing to determine whether related foods are also allergens.
Common Tree Nuts
Many different nuts fall under the general tree nut heading, but some are more commonly featured in U.S. cuisine than others. In particular, notes the FAI, walnuts, pecans, almonds and macadamia nuts appear frequently in baked goods and as oils in cooking. These nuts are common allergens, and an allergy to one often indicates a probable allergy to the others—walnuts and pecans are particularly closely related. The Mayo Clinic suggests that family history may provide a good indication as to whether a child is likely to have a tree nut allergy, because allergies often run in families. It can be quite difficult to assess which tree nuts cause reactions and which don’t, but allergists can test using skin pricks or blood draws to determine which nuts are likely to be allergens in a particular individual.
Uncommon Tree Nuts
Even though some tree nuts are much less commonly found in food, they are still common allergens and are often found in the cuisine of other cultures or in lotions and beauty products. The FAI includes ginkgo, shea nut, hickory and coconut under this heading, and notes that manufacturers must declare these nuts in food products. Because shea nut is most frequently found in lotion, individuals experiencing allergy symptoms may need to include topical creams, lotions, shampoos and other beauty products in their food diary for the purpose of identifying allergenic substances. The FAI notes further that while coconut is classified as a tree nut by the FDA for food warning purposes, it’s not cross-reactive with other tree nuts.
