are there any foods with hidden nuts?

[caedmyn]

It looks like my DD is tree nut intolerant/allergic. We're going to be eating out a lot for the next couple of weeks--are there any foods that I should be aware of that contain hidden nuts, or that you wouldn't think would contain nuts but do? Links would be great if anyone has some...TIA

[Chinese Pistache]

I'll try searching for a forum (I found one for corn that's awesome), but here's a link about nut allergies: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/61/67466

[BusyMommy]

I heard nutmeg, actually, as in gingerbread houses, boys, etc.

[Meiri]

Every place you eat, ASK. If the server isn't sure, have them check. Tell them why. People tend to care about accuracy when they understand that an allergy is involved.

Labels are now required to list all such hazards. They'll say if the food item is even produced in a factory or production line in/on which nuts are processed.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by Meiri

Every place you eat, ASK. If the server isn't sure, have them check. Tell them why. People tend to care about accuracy when they understand that an allergy is involved.

Labels are now required to list all such hazards. They'll say if the food item is even produced in a factory or production line in/on which nuts are processed.

Speaking from experience, most people (waitstaff at restaurants, anyway) don't care. She has dairy intolerances/allergies and every time we go I request no dairy and if I think something might have dairy I specifically ask about that item. Most of the time the waitstuff doesn't seem too interested in checking out the list of ingredients, and when they do check, the response tends to be something along the lines of, "Oh we think it probably has butter in it." And probably half the time the plate comes out with cheese on it or on the side, or butter on something. We've had maybe 4 waitresses (out of 25 or more restaurant visits) that appeared to really care and go out of their way to make sure there was no dairy involved in my food.

On a related note...is it a bad idea to go to Texas Roadhouse type restaurants (where they throw peanut shells on the floor) if she's tree nut intolerant/allergic, even if she's never shown any sensitivity to peanuts? I would definitely keep her off the floor and make sure there are no peanuts at our table...probably make them wipe down the table and seats before we sit down, too.

Also, is it possible that chewing on a walnut shell could have sensitized DD to tree nuts (DH gave it to her: )? I used to eat nuts all the time when she was 4-5 months old and she was fine with them then.

[jocelyndale]

Originally Posted by BusyMommy

I heard nutmeg, actually, as in gingerbread houses, boys, etc.

Nutmeg isn't related to any of the tree nuts.

[caedmyn]

Coconut isn't considered a tree nut, is it?

[wendy1221]

Originally Posted by caedmyn

Coconut isn't considered a tree nut, is it?

This is very debatable. THe FDA just ruled that it needs to be labelled as a tree nut on food labels now, but most alergists and parents whose kids have nut allergies say it is not a tree nut, it's a seed, and therefore ok. We use coconut milk as a milk sub and have never had a problem.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by wendy1221

This is very debatable. THe FDA just ruled that it needs to be labelled as a tree nut on food labels now, but most alergists and parents whose kids have nut allergies say it is not a tree nut, it's a seed, and therefore ok. We use coconut milk as a milk sub and have never had a problem.

I'm going to assume it's not...I eat a ton of coconut oil and I can't give it up without a very good reason (it makes up about 1/3 of my calories at this point).

Do you know the answer to any of these questions?

On a related note...is it a bad idea to go to Texas Roadhouse type restaurants (where they throw peanut shells on the floor) if she's tree nut intolerant/allergic, even if she's never shown any sensitivity to peanuts? I would definitely keep her off the floor and make sure there are no peanuts at our table...probably make them wipe down the table and seats before we sit down, too.

Also, is it possible that chewing on a walnut shell could have sensitized DD to tree nuts (DH gave it to her )? I used to eat nuts all the time when she was 4-5 months old and she was fine with them then.

[Meiri]

On a related note...is it a bad idea to go to Texas Roadhouse type restaurants (where they throw peanut shells on the floor) if she's tree nut intolerant/allergic, even if she's never shown any sensitivity to peanuts? I would definitely keep her off the floor and make sure there are no peanuts at our table...probably make them wipe down the table and seats before we sit down, too.

This would be something to ask your daughter's allergist.

If she was allergic to peanuts, which are legumes, I'd say that definately Texas Roadhouse and similar places would have to be avoided. The nut dust would be in the air, no matter how much wiping down of seats was done.

My understanding is that one can be allergic to tree nuts without being allergic to peanuts/legumes and vice versa.

[caedmyn]

She doesn't have an allergist.

[memory maker]

my dd tested allergic to peanuts at a year but not to tree nuts. We just had her retested today and she tested allergic to almonds. tree nut and peanut allergies are not always one in the same. I would personally stay away from places that had peanuts all over. Just because a table is wiped down, some of the oils from the peanuts can still linger. Also has the pp had mentioned, all the peanut dust in the air could trigger a reaction. I personally wouldnt take the risk

[wendy1221]

I would stay away from the places w/ peanuts everywhere for sure.

As for whether or not chewing on nut shells sensitized her, who knows? My ds's biggest bump when he was skin tested was eggs, and I am allergic to eggs, so he hadn't been exposed to them. WHo knows where these allergies come from.

[BusyMommy]

Originally Posted by jocelyndale

Nutmeg isn't related to any of the tree nuts.

I don't know but our school nurse asked if ds had permission to eat gingerbread cookies b/c she said it's related to his cashew/almond allergy.

[BusyMommy]

Originally Posted by caedmyn

On a related note...is it a bad idea to go to Texas Roadhouse type restaurants (where they throw peanut shells on the floor) if she's tree nut intolerant/allergic, even if she's never shown any sensitivity to peanuts? I would definitely keep her off the floor and make sure there are no peanuts at our table...probably make them wipe down the table and seats before we sit down, too.

There was a huge thread on this awhile ago. If you know the name of the restaurant chain for sure, do a search on that. Not sure how else you could pull it up???

And, yes, there would be a chance she's allergic to peanuts for definitely not a given. My son isn't even sensitive to peanuts.

[elmh23]

Be careful about the oils used for cooking and frying. I know ChikFilet uses peanut oil.

[flitters]

I'm very allergic to tree nuts but not at all to peanuts, or coconut, or pine nuts, or nutmeg, or sunflower seeds (as none of the latter are technically tree nuts).
I have been my whole life.

The most common hidden tree nuts I have encountered are in pesto, typically cashew oil (where in two cases, even the chef forgot he put it in).

Indian food often has nuts that are finely ground so it's very important to ask at Indian restaurants. I have also found that I get more reliable nut-content-reports at Indian restaurants than any other... not sure why.

I have *once* found nuts in salsa (cashews again).
I tend to avoid imported dessert foods since they almost always have hazelnut.
Coffee often reeks of hazelnut too, but I doubt that will be a problem for your child.

It's the sauces... Sometimes rices... Places where they can hide.

I have dh taste questionable things for me first.
Then if he thinks it's fine, I take ONE SMALL bite. SMALL. Tiny. Then wait a few minutes. Drink water. And wait. For me the reaction is pretty much immediate and unique in a way that I don't mistake it for anything else. Sometimes spiciness or strong flavors can mask it for a minute, which is why I wait and drink the water.

It's really not so hard to avoid tree nuts in restaurants. I eat out all the time. Ask questions. Good luck!