This tree nut allergy alert for several other natural products is my second post sharing what I’ve learned from my own daughter’s severe tree nut allergies.
Last year I wrote about my daughter’s strange allergic and anaphylactic reaction after eating at a restaurant at Disneyland.
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We had no idea why she had this reaction as the chef swore that there had been no tree nuts, or any form of cross contamination in her food. Yet clearly, she’d ingested some form of nuts as her airway had started to close, and she was feeling her lips swelling as well as other symptoms.
You will find that post here. However, I can tell you that the offending allergen was the pink peppercorns (which are related to cashews) in a four-blend pepper that the restaurant used. How I discovered this two weeks after the reaction was extremely serendipitous, I’m very thankful to an Amazon reviewer for the information.
Since then, I’ve discovered that there are some other hidden or obscure tree nut allergens. These may cause those with allergies to tree nuts to react, so I want to inform you about those, too.
Tree Nut Allergy Alert
NB: please understand that I am not a doctor or allergist. I am simply passing on what I feel is vital and helpful information. Anyone with a tree nut allergy (or those who have children with allergies) can do their own research on these allergens. Given that my daughter has a severe tree nut allergy, I would very much appreciate anyone putting out such information that may save her from an anaphylactic reaction in future.
Sumac
Sumac seems to have popped up a while ago as a great, new spice that is being used in restaurants and recipes. I even spotted it in my local Trader Joe’s spice shelf. However, this flowering plant is similar to the pink peppercorns. It is also part of the cashew family (Anacardiaceae), as noted in Wikipedia. Luckily, my daughter has not encountered this spice, but now she knows to avoid it. We’d rather be safe than sorry.
Argan (Argan Oil)
This was a complete surprise to me, as I didn’t know the derivation of Argan oil. I had been using it in my hair as a friend gave me some to try. It was also in the hair, skin and nails supplement I had been taking. The shock came when I was reading the label on the bottle and saw this below the ingredients.
“Contains Soy and Tree Nut (Argan) ingredients.”
Of course, I immediately hopped on to google to read more about Argan oil, and told my daughter to avoid it, too. Here is what I read on Wikipedia:
“Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa L.) that is endemic to Morocco. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. World-wide, it is gaining a reputation both as an ingredient in high-end, personal-care products and as a heart-healthy gourmet product.[1]“
Who knew? Not me! If you have a tree nut allergy, please take care with argan products.
Shea Butter
Yep, you guessed it, shea butter comes from a nut. Interestingly, my daughter had reactions from a face lotion and a sunscreen that contained shea butter on separate occasions. The strange thing is that she realized she had been using other products with shea butter that has no effect on her skin.
I’ve told her to avoid it, once again, just to be safe. You’ll have to do your own research, but I’d rather put this on the list of things that come from nuts, and which may cause reactions, than to leave it off.
Mango
Believe it or not, mangoes are also related to cashews as they too, are part of the Anacardiaceae family! My daughter has eaten mangoes in the past with no reaction whatsoever. However, in some comments on my last allergy post (or in emails from readers), readers have shared that some people with nut allergies have reacted to mangoes.
Marula
Marula is used to make Amarula liqueur is also in the Anarcardiaceae family (like mangoes and cashews, stated above). Marula oil made from seeds of the marula plant may cause allergic reactions to those with nut allergies.
Once again, I am sharing this information in the hope that spreading the word may save nut allergy sufferers from future reactions. This is especially important as they could be anaphylactic reactions.
Do you know of any other such allergens with cross reactions to those with tree nut allergies? I’d love to hear from you! You may help my daughter with her severe tree nut allergy, and many others!
Please pass on this important information to anyone you know who has a tree nut allergy or knows others who do. I’m sure they will be more than grateful.
Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Christina,
I had an anaphylactic shock from pine nuts in London a few months ago from a chicken pesto wrap at Pret. I only had a minor reaction to pine nuts years before, and have avoided them for the most part. When I was tested, Almonds, Pecans, and several other nuts showed positive. Pine nuts were off the chart. I wondered if the pine nut reaction could have had an effect on the other nuts showing positive ? Cashews were ok. I also discovered Argan oil in the Trader Joe’s shampoo and Shea butter in soap I have been using . I am wondering if those could Cross trigger a reaction for pine nuts. Doctors seem to be guessing at best and probably can’t afford to commit to possibilities.
I was probably a few minutes from dying, so I am doing everything I can to check labels, but the US is way behind Europe on labeling .
Eric
SO sorry to hear this, Eric! So scary. Honestly, I don’t think enough research is being put into food allergies, especially given the exponential increase in people affected. Just do your best to avoid as many things as you can. My daughter is finding that more and more companies are just adding “may contain traces of nuts” in EVERYTHING so that the number of foods she used to eat has dwindled significantly. It think it’s horrible to slap that notice on everything just to cover themselves. Meanwhile so many allergy sufferers have to do without something they’ve been eating for years and years. Good luck.
Yes there are so many companies that are doing this…I actually ended up on your site after looking up kids gummy vitamins because almost every brand has that on their label. But one brand says tree nuts (coconut). That right there drives me crazy because there isn’t even agreement about whether or not coconut is a nut. My son’s allergist says it’s a fruit and he can have it as long as he tolerates it. So I’m left wondering if coconut is the only ‘nut’ potentially in these vitamins or if there may be others. Hard to know if they’re safe or not. So of course I just avoid it. The brand we usually get (NatureMade) isn’t in stock right now.
Also, on a side note of sorts, I avoid all store brand snacks, dried fruit and baking ingredients (Great Value, Food Club, etc.) because almost all of them have a laundry list of potential cross contamination allergens. I also had a hard time with Wilton cake and cookie decorating products because some have that warning and others don’t. I ended up contacting them via email to ask very specific questions about individual products. These labels can vary with every production. It’s so difficult to find things like that that are allergen friendly too!
One last note: I completely agree that it’s difficult to find food and products that are allergen friendly, so I would highly encourage you not to take chances with processed food whenever possible. For example, you mentioned Wilton products. You won’t have a thing to worry about if you make homemade buttercream instead of buying Wilton cake products. Buttercream is essentially butter and confectioner’s sugar (cocoa if you want to make chocolate), but YOU have control over what you put in it, and butter and sugar are never an issue. Not to mention, you don’t want your children ingesting loads of corn syrup and preservatives and awful colors that are in those types of products, too. The more you make, the safer they are.
You’re also modeling for them to do this when they’re older. Have them help you in the kitchen. My son and daughter are both wonderful cooks and love it, so I feel much more confident that my daughter is eating her own food instead of chancing allergens in other food products and eating out all the time.
Oh, my gosh, I feel like a one woman army about shea butter. I am deathly allergic to latex, and cannot use avocado oil either. For one thing, shea butter is NOT non-comedogenic, that is, it can clog your pores. I ended up with adult acne (milia) and read all labels now. You can indeed be allergic to shea butter. You’re not alone. Why it’s in everything is anyone’s guess. I think it must be cheap, personally. I have great Italian skin and I just don’t need this stuff.
I simply don’t understand the need to put a hundred toxic ingredients in lotions, either! Glad you know about it and read labels though!
I find the Shea Butter thing so strange for my own allergy as I only react to higher concentrated products with it in on my face but no where else on the body. Same goes for Aloe Vera so keep an eye out for that one because so many people think it’s the saviour to everything but my face doesn’t like it at all.
Fascinating! My little guy has cashew and peanut allergies, and we just had to add pistachio. But Lipini beans, which in Europe are brined and have a thick skin are a common snack. I have seen them at more international stores like World Market. But my son tried them and spent the next few hours throwing them up. I figured it was a bad batch, but through further research found they are also related to cashews. Lupini beans. They are large and look like large white fava beans.
Hi Erin, so so sorry to hear this. I actually have a how to cook lupini beans post here on my site and include a warning. It’s not cashews they are related to, but peanuts. Where did you find the information that they are related to cashews? You should let them know they are misinforming others. The FDA issued a warning about two years ago. It also makes sense that they’re related to peanuts since both are plants versus a cashew being a tree.
Regardless, I’m glad your son is okay and that you know to avoid them in future. Good luck! CC
Lupini beans are considered a legume as are peanuts. If your son is allergic to peanuts then stay away from legumes or at least have your guard up if your son is going to eat a legume.
Legumes include alfalfa, clover, beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, lupins, mesquite, carob, soybeans, peanuts, and tamarind
I hope you find this helpful
Thanks, SheriLee!!
I have always been what I consider “slightly” allergic to tree nuts but didn’t take it serious because the allergy wasn’t too bad. Recently my mother in law bought me Argan oil for my face and I had no idea that it could cause a reaction to those with tree but allergies. Well here I sit with my face bright red, itchy and a terrible rash. I am glad I came across your page in my search because it confirmed the tree but allergy for me and how bad things could actually get, very quick. I will be going to the doctor to get an Epi Pen because this has been eye opening for me.
Hi Lynn, I’m sorry to hear about your allergy, but I’m glad you’re getting an Epipen. Don’t mess around with allergies, it’s just not worth it. Hopefully yours doesn’t get worse and it’s always good to be apprised of new information. I’ve joined a few allergy pages on FB and I learn something new every now and then. Good luck and thanks for your note. CC
Thank you so much for the information. I am 64 years old and my allergy to tree nuts is now life threatening. Even when I get the necessary antihistamine, the reaction comes back on its own. To all parents who have allergic children, please make every effort to limit their exposure to the allergen. My reaction to tree nuts started at age 5 with brownies and has gotten worse with every subsequent exposure. I carry two epipens with me at all times just to give me enough time to get to an ER. Extreme hot weather and cold can decrease the effectiveness of the epipens. Do not leave them in the car. Epipens should also be replaced every six months.
Sorry to hear that, Angela. I know allergies can increase in severity every time there’s an exposure. My daughter never leaves hers in the car (is always with HER), but thank you for reiterating this. It’s so important. Thanks so much.
Thank you for the info on sumac, I have a nickel allergy and one of the many things that contain a high concentration of nickel are nuts. I had a reaction last night and the only thing different in the meal that I made was sumac.
So sorry I missed this comment earlier in spring, Jennifer. Wow, I didn’t know about the connection with nickel, nuts and sumac. Thanks for posting this here. It will hopefully help someone else in future, too.
Thank you for sharing what you’ve researched and learned with your daughter’s allergies. I found your article by searching for Amarula liquor as an allergen. Not too many people out there know it can affect folk negatively. I wish more folk would be like you and would share.
I’m overly educated when it comes to asthma, but a swelling tongue is entirely different thing. Inhalers and steroids control asthma attacks, my doctor says what I experienced with a bakery item that used Amarula was a one-off and probably related to my pollen allergies. I say I’m allergic to my doc – he’s the nut ;). I’m just trying to figure out what to expect if I encounter it again, and what else is related to it (I’ve not had any big issues with cashews or mangoes… yet.)
As an adult in my 40’s I suddenly I had an anaphylactic attack. Very serious. Never had one before.
It was mangoes which I had eaten several times before.
ALWAYS ALWAYS triple check in restaurants and any store-bought products.
Cashews and SUMAC are absolutely connected.
And ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have 2 epipens…. if you have only one, and you panic……..
Sorry to hear that Lynda. Yes, it can happen at any time to any one of us. Thanks for the tips.
Hi Christina,
I am specifically allergic to this family too. I’ve now been tested and am highly allergic to sumac and pink peppercorns as well as cashews, pistachios and some other tree nuts. Just FYI, it is the mango kernel that those who are allergic to this family are allergic to as it contains the same protien. I’ve recently found in the UK this is being used as a by product in chocolate/cookies, and has given me reactions. Look out for “vegetable oil (palm, mango, etc) ” on the ingredients list. It’s now being used very widely over here in a lot of big brands such as nestle.
Hope that helps,
Grace