Tree Allergies – Are you aware?

A tree nut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children and adults. Tree nuts can cause a severe, potentially fatal, allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). An allergy to tree nuts tends to be lifelong; recent studies have shown that approximately 9 percent of children with a tree nut allergy eventually outgrow their allergy.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include - (and each child is different)

 Flushed face, hives or a rash, red and itchy skin  Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue  Trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing  Anxiety, distress, faintness, paleness, sense of doom, weakness  Cramps, diarrhea, vomiting  A drop in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, loss of consciousness

Tree nuts include, but are not limited to, walnut, , hazelnut, cashew, pistachio, and Brazil nuts. These are not to be confused or grouped together with peanut, which is a legume, or seeds, such as sunflower or sesame.

A person with an allergy to one type of tree nut has a higher chance of being allergic to other types. Therefore, many experts advise patients with allergy to tree nuts to avoid all nuts. Patients may also be advised to also avoid peanuts because of the higher likelihood of cross-contact with tree nuts during manufacturing and processing. Avoid foods that contain tree nuts or any of these ingredients:

 Almond  Ginkgo nut  Nut milk (e.g., almond  Artificial nuts  Hickory nut milk, cashew milk)  Brazil nut  Litchi/lichee/lychee nut  Nut paste (e.g., almond  Beechnut  Macadamia nut paste)  Butternut  /  Nut pieces  Cashew  Nangai nut  Pecan  Chestnut  Natural nut extract  Pesto  Chinquapin nut (e.g., almond, walnut)  Pine nut  *Coconut  Nut butters (e.g.,  Pistachio  Filbert/hazelnut cashew butter)  (a chocolate-  Nut meal  Shea nut nut mixture)  Nut meat  Walnut

Other names for tree nuts

In the past, some products have used other names for tree nuts on their labels. These names are not permitted based on the enhanced labelling requirements for food allergen and gluten sources and added sulphites, however, if you have a tree nut allergy and see one of the following in the list of ingredients on a product you should not eat it.

 Anacardium nuts  Pinon  Filberts (hazelnuts)  Queensland nut (macadamia)  Nut meats Food and products that contain or often contain tree nuts

 Calisson (a marzipan-like candy made from )  Dishes such as almond chicken, pad thai, satay, chili and trout amandine  Gianduja and giandula (chocolate blended with hazel nuts)  Marzipan (almond paste)  Tree nut oils   Spreads, for example, almond paste-based spreads, cheese spreads, chocolate nut spreads  (sugar paste made with nuts), for example, Torrone  Nutella  Vegetarian dishes Other possible sources of tree nuts

 Baked goods  Baking mixes, cereals, crackers and muesli  Barbecue and pesto sauces  Dressings and gravies  Flavoured coffees  Frozen desserts  Liqueurs, for example, amaretto, Frangelico  Natural flavourings and extracts, for example, pure almond extract  Salads, for example, Waldorf salad  Snack foods, for example, trail mix Non-food sources of tree nuts

 Bean bags, kick sacks/hacky sacks  Bird seed  Cosmetics, hair care products, sun screens  Massage oils  Pet food