Peanuts and tree nuts are a common ingredient or garnish for many restaurant dishes, but for some guests, even a trace amount of nut protein can cause an allergic reaction. Peanuts and tree nut allergic reactions tend to be very severe and may be life-threatening. Estimates show that nearly 3.1 million Americans suffer from tree nut allergies,1 and the number of children with peanut allergies doubled between 1997 and 2002.2 So it is important to be aware of the common foods and ingredients that contain nuts in order to assure your guests have a healthy dining experience.
The following table contains common tree nuts that are known to cause allergic reactions and should be avoided when preparing dishes:
Chestnut
Hazelnut/Filbert
Macadamia nut
Whether in trace amounts or as a primary ingredient, tree nuts can be found in a variety of common ready-to-eat foods.
Foods that Contain Peanuts
Foods that Contain Tree Nuts
Chili
(used as a thickener)
Marinades
Peanut butter
Ethnic foods
Spaghetti sauce
(used as a thickener)
Salads
When serving guests with peanut or tree nut allergies, be sure to read food labels for common ingredients that contain contain nut proteins.
Ingreadients with Peanuts
Ingredients with Tree Nuts
Arachis oil
Tree nut oils
Mixed nuts
Wintergreen extract
Beer nuts
Artificial nut flavors
Artificially flavored nuts
Marzipan
Ground nuts
Almond extract
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