Avoiding the Peanut Allergy
Over the next several weeks I will be researching and reporting on the definition, symptoms, causes and cures for the ever-growing Peanut Allergy.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the basic definition of the peanut allergy reads as follows:
Peanut allergy is common, especially in children. Peanut allergy symptoms can range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis). For some people with peanut allergy, even tiny amounts of peanuts can cause a serious reaction.
If you or your child has had a reaction to peanuts, tell your doctor about it. Peanut allergy is one of the most common causes of severe allergy attacks.
It's important to get even a minor reaction to peanuts checked out. Even if you or your child has had only a mild allergic reaction in the past, there's still a risk of a more serious future reaction.
In addition, according to the website, PeanutAllergy.com: "Food allergies are extremely prevalent, affecting between 4-8% of children, but most are not as dangerous as a peanut allergy, which affects approximately 1% of children".
In addition, the site continues on, saying that, "Allergic food reactions, particularly peanut allergy, are on the rise, according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. Peanut allergy causes an estimated 15,000 emergency room visits each year and nearly 100 deaths. Peanuts, along with milk, eggs, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds and pecans, for example), fish, shellfish, soy and wheat account for 90 percent of all allergic reactions in the United States".
- v In place of today's recipe, I would instead like to provide readers with a list of foods to AVOID if you have an allergy to peanuts according to PeanutAllergy.com. Consider this list when planning food-based speech and language lessons.
Avoid foods that contain any of the following ingredients:
cold pressed, expressed, or expelled peanut oil
ground nuts
mixed nuts
Nu-Nuts® artificial nuts
peanuts
peanut butter
peanut flour
Foods that may indicate the presence of peanut protein include:
African, Chinese, Thai, and other ethnic dishes
baked goods
candy
cereals
chili, spaghetti sauce
chocolate (candy, candy bars)
crackers
egg rolls
hydrolyzed plant protein
hydrolyzed vegetable protein
ice creams, frozen yogurts, tofutti
marzipan
nougat
The site also warns that:
".....many who are allergic to peanuts are allergic to other nuts like walnuts, cashews or brazil nuts".
In addition, "Coconut, the seed of a drupaceous fruit, has typically not been restricted in the diets of people with tree nut allergy. However, in October of 2006, the FDA began identifying coconut as a tree nut. The available medical literature contains documentation of a small number of allergic reactions to coconut; most occurred in people who were not allergic to other tree nuts. Ask your doctor if you need to avoid coconut".
Please send in your questions and concerns regarding the peanut allergy.
Join me next week when I look at market products that are delicious substitutes
for peanut allergy related foods!