Peanut Allergies
Somehow my little man got into my peanut M&Ms (as he gets taller the counters get shorter!). He snuck under the table and ate the 10 or so that were in a food container. I was having a heart attack, but thankfully, he did not have a reaction. I called the allergist and we came up with a plan to introduce peanuts into his diet. I was so happy my picky eater would be eating a great source of protein, vitamins & minerals, and fiber. For 10 days I was diligent with giving him more and more peanuts. Then I decided to add a small amount of peanut butter to his toast – what a healthy breakfast! Within minutes of consuming 3 toddler bites, my almost 2 year old started screaming. It went downhill from there & landed us in the Emergency Department as he broke into hives & swelling in his face. He was hardly recognizable but thank goodness his breathing wasn’t affected. So much for peanuts – the allergist is still bewildered…
Here are foods that may contain peanuts or other names for peanuts, taken from The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis network:
Artificial Nuts
Beer Nuts
Cold Pressed, Expelled, or Extruded Peanut Oil
Goobers
Ground Nuts
Mixed Nuts
Monkey Nuts
Nutmeat
Nut Pieces
Peanut Oil (“no kidding,” right???)
Peanut Flour
Watch out for ethnic cuisine (Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican) as peanuts, peanut butter, etc. may be used in cooking. Also be aware that pastries, cookies and any other baked goods can be another source of hidden peanut proteins.
Ask your allergist if it is safe to eat Peanut Oil (NOT the oils listed above). There are studies that show individuals can eat Peanut Oil (but not as above); our allergist gave us the green light. Arachis Oil is another name for Peanut Oil.
What about when the label says: “May contain traces of…” or “Processed on equipment shared with…” As a registered dietitian I get this question frequently. I do give my kids these foods. I generally see it as companies “watching their backs.” BUT talk to your doctor. People can have such severe allergies (not just to peanuts) that even the offending allergen being in the vicinity can cause an allergic reaction.
The bottom line: find an allergist who takes time with you, answers all of your questions so you can understand their answers, and with whom you feel comfortable. Information needs to come from credible sources – not just any internet site, family member, etc. Every allergy is different with every person.
Finally, always have your Epi-Pen with you… and Benadryl in the cupboard.
