Trader Joes Specialty Popcorn May Contain Peanuts And Tree Nuts
Trader Joes Heirloom Popcornappears to be nut-free. However, that doesnt mean all Trader Joes popcorn is safe for nut allergies.
The Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Popcorn sounds delicious, but the allergen label warns that it contains milk, and May contain traces of egg, soy, wheat, peanut, almond, cashew, macadamia nut, pistachio, walnut.
The Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn sounds great too, but the Ingredients warns it May contain traces of Milk, Almond, Coconut, Macadamia Nut, Pecan.
Is Coconut Ok In A Nut Free School
Coconut is typically acceptable in nut-free schools because despite the FDAs classification of it as a tree nut, it does not typically need to be restricted in a nut allergy diet. If you have allergies to coconut, you should always bring it to school however, if you do not, consult your school before bringing one.
Coconut, despite being listed as a tree nut by the FDA, is not usually required to be restricted in the diet of people with nut allergies due to the FDAs classification. A coconut is a member of the fruit family known as a drupe. Drupes are a fleshy fruit with thin, dark skin on the central pit and seed inside. Although coconuts are technically tree nuts, they are fruit as well. People with nut allergies can eat coconut safely as long as they are not exposed to tree nuts. Technically, peanuts are not nuts, so they cannot be banned in nut-free schools. Peas, beans, and lentils are all members of the peanut family.
Because of the peanut and tree nut policies in place, school employees may feel insecure. Other parents may not be properly educating their children about food allergies or how to read food labels. The use of epinephrine in schools and classrooms that only use peanut-free stories and snacks is less common due to factors such as the environment.
Can You Eat Coconut If You Have A Nut Allergy
It might seem quite bizarre and unlikely but people who are allergic to nuts, or trees nuts specifically can consume coconut safely. Even if your allergic reaction are not mild, there is no harm in eating coconuts. This is because there is quite a big botanical distance between coconuts and tree nuts.
To add to the confusion, the FDA classified coconut as a nut in 2006. By definition, a coconut can also be classified as a nut. Although coconuts are not nuts, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has listed them as a nut. In Australia and New Zealand, coconuts are not listed as nuts.
When it comes to allergies, nuts are considered the top allergens. It is believed that allergy to coconut is much less common than allergy to cashews and almonds .
Just because youre allergic to other nuts like cashews or almonds doesnt necessarily mean youre allergic to coconut, too. Coconuts are very different from peanuts or tree nuts like almonds, cashews, and pecans, and most people with allergies to these foods can tolerate coconut. The botanical distance between coconuts and hazelnuts suggests that people with nut allergies should be able to tolerate coconuts, which research shows is often true. Coconut lacks the protein that many people with nut allergies are sensitive to, so many people with nut allergies can safely consume coconut without an allergic reaction .
A popular allergy blood test checks for the presence of one or more antibodies to walnuts in the blood serum.
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What Is The Most Common Allergy In The World
Pollen. Pollen allergies are one of the most common allergies in the world. Tens of millions of Americans suffer from Pollen allergies. Pollen is a fine yellow powder that is transported from plant to plant by the wind, birds, insects, and other animals to help fertilize plants.
What Kind Of Nut Is Coconut
tree nut. A coconut is a type of fruit known as a drupedrupeA stone fruit, also called a drupe, is a fruit with a large stone inside. The stone is sometimes called the seed, but that is a mistake, as the seed is inside the stone. The stones can also be called a pit. These fruits are edible and used frequently in cooking. https://simple.wikipedia.org wiki Stone_fruit
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What Is A Coconut Is Coconut A Nut Or Fruit
I am definitely not a botanist so bear with me as I learned a lot writing this post! Ive also confirmed I do not want to be a botanist.
According to the Library of Congress, coconut is a fibrous one-seeded drupe. Drupe? I never heard that word either.
A drupe is a fruit with a hard stony covering. Although the word nut is in coconut, a coconut is not botanically classified as a nut, but as a fruit. At least typically.
However, using loose definitions, a coconut could possibly be defined as a nut, fruit, and seed due to the definition of a coconut being a one seeded fruit.
A coconut is not considered a tree nut as a coconut does not open at maturity to release its seeds. Therefore, a coconut is not a true nut, as its seeds are only released when the fruit wall decays or when digested by an animal.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology notes that coconut is not a botanical nut. It further states that coconut is classified as a fruit.
Read The Full Ingredient List To Check For Nuts
Read the entire ingredient list to make sure there are not peanuts or tree nuts in the popcorn snack.
It can be tempting to just quickly jump down to the bolded Allergen Warning underneath the complete list of ingredients, but avoid this temptation! Ive seen too many errors to rely on this list alone.
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How Many People Are Allergic To Coconut
According to a 2017 study, reports of immunoglobulin E -mediated coconut allergy are rare. However, despite the low prevalence of coconut allergy, reactions can be seriousseveral reported cases have involved anaphylaxis.
Its important to note that since the FDA DOES classify coconut as a tree nut allergen, its required to be labeled as such on all FDA-regulated packaged food products. For information on food allergy labeling laws, check out our post on that topic here.
Is Coconut A Nut
Coconut is still technically considered a fruit, but the FDA grayed those lines. Even the Library of Congress tackled this hot topic and concluded that the coconut can be classified as a nut, a fruit or a seed according to their loose definitions.
Coconut is considered a drupe, or a fruit with a hard covering over the seed. But because nuts are defined as a one-seeded fruit, the coconut fits both descriptions. While the ins and outs of coconut classifications may put us non-botanists in a daze, its a crucial decision for anyone with a tree nut allergy.
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Are Coconuts Tree Nuts
Is coconut considered a tree nut? After all, nut is part of the word. Technically speaking, a nut is defined as a one-seeded fruit. So with that loose definition, a coconut can also be classified as a nut. However, coconuts lack many of the proteins that people with tree nut allergies are sensitive to, so many people who have tree nut allergies can safely eat coconut without having an allergic reaction . For a complete list of every food the FDA considers a tree nut , check out #25 on this list.
In 2010, the Journal of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology published a study that digs into the relationship between sesame, coconut, and nut allergies in children. Researchers found that children with a peanut or tree nut allergy were not more likely to be allergic to coconut.
Is Coconut A Nut What You Probably Dont Know
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Coconut has gained a lot of popularity in the American diet with many claims of coconut having significant health benefits.
There are many popular products such as coconut water, coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut aminos as a few examples. It seems like weve all gone coconuts.
With all of this heightened popularity it tends to bring up questions in the food allergy world. Individuals with a tree nut allergy may find themselves wondering, is coconut a nut? Or is coconut a fruit? Or is it a seed?
Keep reading to see what the research says about coconut and food allergies.
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Is Coconut A Tree Nut
Theres a lot of confusion around the difference between peanuts and tree nuts. They may look similar, but theyre very different! Peanuts are legumes and, you guessed it, tree nuts are hard-shelled nuts that grow on trees. We cover this topic in a previous blog post!
Theres also a lot of confusion around the almighty coconut . Its pretty tricky to classifyits sweet and eats like a fruit, but it has a hard outer shell that needs to be cracked open like a nut. It also has the word nut in it.
Sois it a nut? A fruit? A seed? Can you be allergic? Read on to find out!
Warning About Peanut Oil In Popcorn
Some popcorn is popped in peanut oil at places like movie theatres or carnivals. Popcorn oil is hard to spot even on a label because highly processed peanut oil is exempted from food allergy labeling requirements. According to Food Allergy Research and Education :
Highly refined peanut oil is not required to be labeled as an allergen. Studies show that most people with peanut allergy can safely eat this kind of peanut oil. If you are allergic to peanuts, ask your doctor whether you should avoid peanut oil.
-Food Allergy Research and Education
This is why it is imperative you read all the ingredients to spot allergens like peanuts, instead of relying on only the Allergy Warning after the ingredients.
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What To Do If Youre Worried About A Possible Coconut Allergy
Its important to talk to your doctor/allergist if you have any concerns about a potential coconut allergy. They will be able to advise you on the best course of action.
Importantly, while the FDA treats coconut as a tree nut for labeling purposes, dont assume restaurants treat coconuts as tree nuts. If youre worried you have a coconut allergy, its a good idea to call out that ingredient specifically when dining out, and take the same precautionary measures you would with any other food allergy.
Is Coconut Flour Ok For Nut Allergy
Coconut flour is made from coconut meat that has been dried and ground into a flour-like powder. It is a relatively new flour on the market and is becoming more popular due to its gluten free and nut free properties. Many people with nut allergies can safely eat coconut flour, but as with any new food, it is always best to check with your doctor or allergist first.
Food allergies affect many of us in the Elanas Pantry community, and they can have a serious impact on our health. It may seem simple, but this is a complex question with many variables. Theres a chance that this readers bloating is caused by grain-filled flours, which are very taxing on the digestive system even when gluten-free. Many readers have told me that they suffer from food allergies because of their consumption of coconut and coconut-based products. We frequently develop intolerances to a food after consuming it repeatedly over time. To determine whether someone is allergic to food, Ive found that the most effective method is to eliminate all traces of the allergen. A Green House That Almost Killed Me: Examine your food intake and add suspicious foods one by one every three days to see if you get any reaction.
It is possible that certain foods will cause food allergies or that exposure to toxins will exacerbate existing health conditions. What are some of the best health hacks? Please comment if you have any questions.
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Treatment For Nut Allergies
The best way to treat an allergy to nuts is to prevent a reaction by staying away from them. Read menus and food labels very carefully when eating out or shopping.
New studies looking for treatment of peanut allergies have found that peanut immunotherapy drops administered under the tongue are safe and effective as treatment for peanut allergy, even in children as young as 1. They were also found to help significantly desensitize the patients to peanuts.
If you accidentally eat something with nuts in it, watch for signs of a serious allergic reaction , like trouble breathing or swallowing, tightness in your chest, stomach pain, vomiting, or a feeling of doom. These reactions can be life-threatening and need medical attention right away. You should:
- Lie down flat on your back.
- If you have epinephrine, use it and repeat after 5 to 15 minutes if your symptoms havenât gotten better.
If you have a nut allergy, carry two epinephrine auto-injectors at all times, and know how to use them.
Children with serious peanut allergies may benefit from using the drug Palforzia, which can help lessen symptoms theyâre exposed.
Is A Coconut A Nut Fruit Or Seed
One of the most common questions we are asked by patients with tree nut allergy is whether coconut is a fruit or a nut. Unfortunately, the answer is a little complicated. Botanically, the coconut is classified as a fruitmore specifically, it is a drupe. Drupes are more commonly called stone fruits.
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How To Read A Label For Tree Nuts
Always read the entire ingredient label to look for the names of the tree nut you need to avoid. Tree nut ingredients may be within the list of the ingredients. Or tree nuts could be listed in a contains statement beneath the list of ingredients. Examples are “contains walnut” or “contains almond.” This is required by the federal Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act . Learn more about the U.S. food allergen labeling law.
FALCPA requires that all packaged foods regulated by the FDA must list the common names of tree nuts clearly on the ingredient label if it contains tree nuts. Advisory statements such as may contain hazelnuts or made in a facility with tree nuts are voluntary. Advisory statements are not required by any federal labeling law. Discuss with your doctor if you may eat products with these labels or if you should avoid them.
Did you know that marzipan, mortadella, and mandelonas all contain tree nuts? The FDA food allergen label law requires foods to state if they contain a major allergen such as tree nuts. But, there are many foods and products that are not covered by the law, so it is still important to know how to read a label for tree nut ingredients. Products exempt from plain English labeling rules: Foods that are not regulated by the FDA. Cosmetics and personal care items. Prescription and over-the-counter medications. Toys, crafts, and pet food.
CONTAIN TREE NUTS
COMMON TREE NUT NAMES
Almond
Is Coconut Oil Bad For Tree Nut Allergy
Although coconut may be an option for those with tree nut allergies, cross reactivity is extremely rare. In 2006, however, the FDA added coconut AS to its list of allergens, citing its AS status as a tree nut. Although coconut is not considered a nut by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network , it can cause allergic reactions.
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Living With Peanut Or Tree Nut Allergy
If allergy skin testing shows that your child has a peanut or tree nut allergy, an will provide guidelines on what to do.
The best way to prevent a reaction is to avoid peanuts and tree nuts. Avoiding these nuts means more than just not eating them. It also means not eating any foods that might contain tree nuts or peanuts as ingredients.
The best way to be sure a food is nut-free is to read the food label. Manufacturers of foods sold in the United States must state on their labels whether the foods contain peanuts or tree nuts. Check the ingredients list first.
After checking the ingredients list, look on the label for phrases like these:
- “may contain tree nuts”
- “produced on shared equipment with tree nuts or peanuts”
Although these foods might not use nut ingredients, the warnings are there to let people know they might contain traces of nuts. That can happen through “cross-contamination,” when nuts get into a food product because it is made or served in a place that uses nuts in other foods. Manufacturers are not required to list peanuts or tree nuts on the label when there might be accidental cross-contamination, but many do.
Some of the highest-risk foods for people with peanut or tree nut allergy include:
Smartfood Kettle Corn Shared Equipment With Peanuts And Tree Nuts
The Smartfood FAQ tells us they clearly label their popcorn snacks that contain or share equipment with peanuts or tree nuts.
The snacks listed contain or share equipment with peanuts or tree nuts. This is clearly marked on the back of the package. No other SMARTFOOD Snacks contain nor share equipment with peanuts or tree nuts.
You can see on the Amazon labels of the SMARTFOOD White Cheddar Flavored Popcorn and the Caramel & Cheddar Mixhave no warning about nuts, so they are probably made on equipment without peanuts or tree nuts.
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