Not all peanut products are easy to spot
The following ingredients are peanut and should be avoided:
- Arachnis oil (peanut oil)
- Artificial nuts (may contain peanuts)
- Beer nuts
- Cold pressed, expelled or extruded peanut oil (possibly labeled as gourmet oil)
- Ground peanuts, ground nuts
- Mandelonas (peanuts soaked in almond flavoring)
- Mixed nuts (may contain peanuts)
- Peanut
- Peanut butter
- Peanut flour
- Foods prepared in peanut oil (peanut oil has a high "smoke point" and may be used for deep fried food, stir-fry or other methods of cooking requiring oil and high heat)
Foods packaged or labeled before January 1, 2006 may contain peanut protein if the following foods or ingredients are listed on the packaging:
- Hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP)
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
- Natural flavoring
Foods that MAY contain peanuts or peanut ingredients:
Some foods may not contain peanuts in the ingredients, but may become contaminated during production (food plants) or preparation (restaurants, bakeries). Avoid foods that are labeled with warnings that read similar to:
- MANUFACTURED ON EQUIPMENT SHARED WITH PEANUT PRODUCTS
- MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS OR TREE NUTS
- PROCESSED ON SAME EQUIPMENT AS PEANUTS
Peanut allergy can be life-threatening. READ FOOD LABELS CAREFULLY EACH TIME YOU BUY A PRODUCT. Manufacturers may change ingredients at any time. If your physician or allergist has prescribed an epi-pen for you, keep it with you at all times. If the prescription if for a child, make sure one (of the proper dosage) is available at all times (this may include daycare, relatives and friends homes, school, after-school groups, etc). Be sure care-givers are informed and are aware of the symptoms of allergic reaction and how to use an epi-pen.
Peanuts are not just in food
Peanuts and peanut products can be found in things other than food. Check and re-check product labels for:
- Beverages
- Food
- Lotion
- Medication
- Non-stick cooking sprays
- Sunscreen
- Supplements
The above information is not exhaustive. Keep up to date on product recalls and news articles pertaining to your food allergy.