A Guide to Living with a Peanut Allergy

When it comes to food allergies, peanuts sit at the top of the list. Physicians and other medical experts advise people that have a peanut allergy to always have an epinephrine injection readily available in the event it is needed. Auvi-Q®, EpiPen® and Adrenaclick® are the most common kinds of injectors one can have when preventing a reaction. If you are to avoid a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction, you should always read any labels present and avoid peanut products altogether.

Peanut allergies are usually a lifelong allergy, though 20% of the children who are diagnosed with this allergy will grow out of it. The number of instances of this allergy in children is rising. In the past decade, the number of U.S. children associated with peanut allergies tripled. Numbers in Canada and the UK also were on the rise.

Some people diagnosed with peanut allergies mistakenly think that they are unable to eat any type of nut. Tree nuts are not the same as a peanut. Tree nuts (cashews, walnuts, almonds, etc.) come from trees and peanuts come from the ground (legumes). Recent studies do show, though, that 20 to 40 percent of people who have peanut allergies also suffer from tree nut allergies. There are some disagreements among people regarding whether or not those with peanut allergies will suffer a reaction simply from touching the peanut. There are very few cases where people have had allergic reactions from touching peanuts; however, if an affected person does handle peanuts and then touch their mouth, nose or eye, then the individual could have a serious allergic reaction. It is always best to exercise caution.

Note that peanuts are quite high in mold, and should therefore generally be avoided on the anti-Candida diet plan. Foods that contain mold can be problematic for those with a Candida overgrowth, as they might have developed a sensitivity to Candida albicans and other types of fungi. That’s why recommend to avoid peanuts while on the Candida diet.

Helping You Avoid Peanuts

The FDA passed the FALCPA, or Food Allergen Labeling and Consumers Protection Act, which requires that every packaged food product that is sold in the U.S., containing peanuts or any other major food allergen, must list that allergen on the label. It is important that you read the label before purchasing any food to ensure you do not put your health, or the health of anyone you know, in danger.

Avoiding foods that contain peanuts / any of the following ingredients:

Beer nuts
Goobers
Artificial nuts
Extruded peanut oils
Mixed nuts
Mandelonas, which are peanuts that are soaked in almond flavoring)
Ground nuts
Peanut protein
Nut meat
Mixed nuts
Peanut butter
Monkey nuts
Peanut flour
Nut pieces

Peanuts are sometimes found in these items:

Chili
Marzipan
Nougat
Egg rolls
Baked goods, like cookies and pastries
Enchilada sauce
Mole sauce
Candy, like Baby Ruth and Hershey’s

A few unexpected sources of peanuts:

Egg rolls
Specialty pizzas
Pancakes
Mexican, Asian and African dishes
Sweets like baked goods, cookies, pies, hot chocolate, pudding
Sauces ranging from hot sauce to pesto to mole sauce. Also includes salad dressing and chili sauce.
Pet food
Glazes and marinades
Any food that contains cold-pressed, expelled or extruded peanut oil, which contains peanut proteins
Vegetarian food products, especially meat substitutes

*Note: This is a list that highlights some examples of where peanuts have been found unexpectedly. It does not imply that peanuts are always found in these types of food or that no other food items contain peanuts which is why it is very important to look at each label to see the ingredients.

Keep these things in mind:

Cross contamination in food is a very serious issue, especially within the food service industry. People who have food allergies should consider staying away from types of restaurants whose dishes frequently contain peanuts or peanut oils. These restaurant types include Indonesian, Vietnamese, Asian, African, Indian, Thai, Mexican and Chinese. Ice cream shops and bakeries should also be considered potentially dangerous to individuals with a severe peanut allergy.
The FDA doesn’t consider highly refined peanut oil as an allergen. A series of studies show that many people that have allergies can, in fact, eat peanut oil (not the expelled, extruded or cold pressed kind). The only way to know for sure if peanut oil is safe for you is to contact your physician.
Arachis oil is another name for peanut oil.
Sunflower seeds are produced on the same equipment as peanuts.
Alternative nut butters, like sunflower seed butter and soy nut butter, are produced on the same equipment as tree nuts and peanuts (in some cases).
Peanuts are sometimes present in compost added to lawns. Before hiring a contractor ask about the use of peanut hulls in the compost.