Tree Nut Allergy Diet

General guidelines for tree nut allergy

The key to an allergy-free diet is to avoid all foods or products containing the food to which you are allergic. 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.

How to read a label for a tree nut-free diet

Be sure to avoid foods that contain any of the following ingredients:

• Almonds

• Beechnuts

• Brazil nuts

• Butternuts

• Caponata (seafood salad with pine nuts)

• Cashews

• Chestnuts

• Coconut

• Filberts

• Gianduja (a creamy mixture of chocolate and chopped toasted nuts found in premium or imported chocolate)

• Gingko nuts

• Hazelnuts

• Hickory nuts

• Lychee nuts

• Macadamia nuts

• Marzipan/almond paste

• Natural nut extract

• Nougat

• Nu-Nuts artificial nuts

• Nut butters (e.g., cashew butter, almond butter)

• Nutella - a hazelnut spread

• Nut oil

• Nut paste (e.g., almond paste)

• Pecans

• Pesto with pine nuts

• Pine nuts (pignolia)

• Pistachios

• Praline

• Walnuts

Also keep in mind:

• Nu-Nuts artificial nuts are peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut like pecan or walnut.

• Filberts are hazelnuts.

• Avoid natural extracts such as pure almond extract, and natural wintergreen extract (for the 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.