Peanut Allergy Diet
General
guidelines for peanut allergy
The
key to an allergy-free diet is to stay away from all foods or products containing
the
food to which you are allergic. If you are allergic to peanuts, you will need to stay
away from peanuts and foods that contain peanuts. You will need to read all food
labels.
How to read
a label for a peanut-free diet
The
Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) is a law that requires
U.S.
packaged foods to state clearly on the label if they contain peanuts. In addition
to
peanuts, stay away from foods with any of these ingredients:
-
Artificial nuts
-
Beer nuts
-
Ground nuts
-
Mixed nuts
-
Monkey nuts
-
Peanut butter
-
Peanut flour
-
Peanut oil
Foods that
may contain peanuts
These foods may also contain peanuts:
-
African, Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and other ethnic dishes
-
Baked goods
-
Candy
-
Cereals
-
Chili, spaghetti sauce
-
Crackers
-
Egg rolls
-
Enchilada sauce
-
Flavoring (natural and artificial)
-
Hydrolyzed plant protein
-
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
-
Ice creams, frozen yogurts, and nondairy frozen desserts
-
Marzipan
-
Nougat
Always read the entire ingredient label to look for peanuts. Peanut may be in the
ingredient list. Or it could be listed in a “Contains: peanut” statement after the
ingredient list.
Other sources of peanuts
These food sources may also contain peanuts:
-
Peanut oil that is cold-pressed, extruded, or expeller-expressed. But studies
show that most people with allergies can safely eat foods containing highly
refined peanut oil.
-
Ethnic foods, commercially prepared baked goods,
and candy. These can be cross-contaminated with peanuts since peanuts are often
used in these types of foods.
-
Homemade chili and spaghetti sauce. These may be
thickened with peanut butter or peanut flour.
-
Hydrolyzed plant and vegetable protein in
imported foods. These proteins may be from peanuts. In the U.S., these proteins
often come from soy.
Important points
Foods that don't contain peanuts could be contaminated during
manufacturing. Advisory statements are not regulated by the FDA. They are voluntary.
These include labels such as "processed in a facility that also processed peanut."
Or
"made on shared equipment." Ask your healthcare provider if you can eat products with
these labels. Or if you should stay away from them.
Some foods and products are not covered by the FALCPA law. These
include:
-
Foods that are not regulated by the FDA
-
Cosmetics and personal care items
-
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines and
supplements
-
Toys, crafts, and pet foods
When you are eating out
-
Always carry 2 epinephrine auto-injectors. Make
sure you and those close to you know how to use it.
-
Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace with your allergy
information.
-
If you don't have epinephrine auto-injectors, talk with your
healthcare provider. Ask if you should carry them.
-
In a restaurant, food may be cross-contaminated with peanuts.
-
Always read food labels. And always ask about ingredients at
restaurants. Do this even if these are foods that you have eaten in the past.
-
Stay away from buffets with peanuts. This will help you avoid
cross-contamination of foods with shared utensils.