It’s important to note that since the FDA DOES classify coconut as a tree nut allergen, it’s required to be labeled as such on all FDA-regulated packaged food products. For information on food allergy labeling laws, check out our post on that topic here.
Can you eat coconut if you have a nut allergy?
Even though coconut isn’t a nut, some people who are allergic to tree nuts (like almonds, cashews, and walnuts) are also allergic to coconut. But others are not. So talk to your doctor to see if coconut is OK for you. Until then, avoid coconut.
Is coconut a fruit or nut allergy?
Despite its name, coconut is not a nut but a type of fruit known as a drupe. Most people with tree nut allergies can safely eat coconut and its products without any symptoms of a reaction. Still, you should speak to a healthcare professional before trying coconut if you have an extreme allergy to tree nuts.
Is coconut OK in a nut free school?
Generally, coconut is allowed at nut-free schools because although the FDA lists coconut as a tree nut, it usually does not typically need to be restricted in the diets of people with nut allergies. Some people do have allergies to coconut, so always ask the school before bringing a coconut.
What foods to avoid if you have a nut allergy?
Some of the highest-risk foods for people with peanut or tree nut allergy include:
- Cookies and baked goods. Even if baked goods don’t contain nut ingredients, it is possible that they came into contact with peanut or tree nuts through cross-contamination.
- Candy.
- Ice cream.
- Asian, African, and other cuisine.
- Sauces.
Does the FDA consider coconut a tree nut?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes coconut as a tree nut, and thus an allergen that must be declared. This can be confusing for some, as coconuts are not typically considered to be nuts and there are few instances of people being allergic to both true tree nuts and coconuts.
How common is a coconut allergy?
In contrast, allergic reactions to coconut are relatively rare. Few cases of allergic reactions from eating coconut products have been reported, including one case of severe stomach upset in a baby fed infant formula containing coconut.
What family is coconut in?
coconut, edible fruit of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), a tree of the palm family (Arecaceae). Coconuts probably originated somewhere in Indo-Malaya and are one of the most important crops of the tropics.
Why is coconut considered a tree nut?
According to the FDA, coconut is a tree nut. And, by all rights, a food that grows on trees and contains the word “nut” as its third syllable feels appropriately named.
Can children with a nut allergy eat coconut?
The FDA lists coconut as a tree nut. In fact, coconut is a seed of a drupaceous fruit. Most people allergic to tree nuts can safely eat coconut.
Is Nutella safe for nut allergies?
Does Nutella® contain any peanuts? Nutella® hazelnut spread does not contain peanuts or any peanut ingredients, nor does the product come in contact with peanuts during manufacturing.
Is cocoa butter safe for nut allergies?
In fact, reactions to chocolate are usually related to a shellfish allergy or cross contamination with nuts, dairy, soy, etc. So, if you have a severe allergy to peanuts or other tree nuts, make sure your cocoa butter or chocolate is free from contamination with other nuts.
What foods are in the nut family?
Tree nuts include:
- Almonds.
- Brazil nuts.
- Cashews.
- Chestnuts.
- Filberts.
- Hazelnuts.
- Hickory nuts.
- Macadamia nuts.
Is coconut oil a tree nut?
A coconut is really a SEED, not a nut. It is the seed of a drupaceous fruit. A drupe is a fruit with a hard stony covering enclosing the seed (like a peach or olive). While it is possible to be allergic to coconut, the cross reactivity for those with tree nut allergies is very rare.
What foods have hidden nuts?
Unexpected Sources of Tree Nuts: Breakfast cereals, Candy, Crackers, Cookies, Chocolates, energy bars, flavored coffee, frozen desserts, marinade, barbeque sauces, some cold cuts, ice cream, alcoholic beverages (flavorings), lotions, shampoos, and soaps.
What are the 14 allergies?
The 14 allergens are: celery, cereals containing gluten (such as barley and oats), crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs and lobsters), eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs (such as mussels and oysters), mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (if the sulphur dioxide and sulphites are at a
Does Almond need to be declared as an allergen?
Under FALCPA, food labels are required to clearly state if the food contains a “major food allergen”, which is identified as any ingredient that contains a protein derived from these eight foods: milk; eggs; fish, crustacean shellfish; tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pecans; peanuts; wheat; and soya beans.
Which of these is not a tree nut?
Tree nuts considered as priority allergens include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts (pignolias), pistachio nuts and walnuts. Peanuts are part of the legume family and are not considered a tree nut.
Is coconut a major allergen?
According to CCA, coconut is not a major food allergen nor is it a nut. CCA cites The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology which states that “[c]oconut is not a botanical nut; it is classified as a fruit, even though the Food and Drug Administration recognizes coconut as a tree nut.
Why does coconut upset my stomach?
What’s more, coconut water is high in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs), which are short-chain carbohydrates that can draw water into the intestines and cause digestive issues like diarrhea in some people ( 7 ).
Are oats an allergen?
Oats are one of the 14 listed allergens. For oats to be called ‘gluten-free’ they must have been specially produced, prepared and/or processed in a way to avoid contamination by wheat, rye, barley, or their crossbred varieties and the gluten content of such oats must not exceed 20 mg/kg.