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Peanut Elimination Diet

The peanut is not a nut. A. It is a legume and it cross reacts with other legumes including beans and peas. B. It is an obvious ingredient in peanut butter, peanut brittle, and M&Ms with peanuts. However, it is frequently less obvious in many candy bars, granola-type bars, crackers, party mix, cereals, cookies, cakes, and breads. C. Equipment may have traces of peanut if it has been used both, to make a product containing peanut and used to make another non-peanut product. D. Peanut butter may be used as a seal for egg rolls. E. Peanut butter may be used as a thickener for certain sauces (e.g. chili). F. Read labels for each purchase and ask questions about peanuts when eating out. Peanut-allergic patients should use caution whenever eating out. G. Commercial, high-grade and distilled peanut oil has not been shown to be allergenic in peanut- sensitive patients. However, cold-pressed, expressed or extruded peanut oil may have peanut protein and should be avoided (e.g. gourmet peanut oil).

Read labels for the following words that indicate the presence of peanut as an ingredient: Mixed nuts Peanut Peanut butter Peanut brittle Peanut flour

These foods may contain peanut: Almond butter/cashew butter Chili M&M's plain and peanut candy (may have traces of peanut Chinese, Thai, African, Nu-Nuts flavored nuts from processing Indonesian, Mexican and Nougat equipment) Vietnamese dishes Oriental sauces Baked goods and pastries (often Cookies Pie crust use “shared equipment”) Crackers Sauces (may contain peanut Baking mixes Egg rolls as a thickener) Battered foods Flavoring Soups Biscuits Breads Granola bars Spaghetti sauce Brown gravy Ice cream (especially ice cream Specialty pizzas Brownies shops that share scoops Vegetable fat/oil Cakes between bins) Vegetarian food that uses “meat Candy Marzipan substitute” Cereals Mexican salsa sauce Cheesecakes

Several pet foods, biscuits and treats contain peanut butter. Read labels if physical contact to peanut produces symptoms.

Peanut is a member of the legume family. If you are allergic to peanut, you may (about 5% chance of allergic cross-reactivity among legumes) need to eliminate other specific legumes (e.g. soy; also see “legume handout”). Unlike other legumes, there is a strong possibility of cross-reactivity between peanuts and lupine. Your doctor will specify if legumes are to be avoided. Read all labels. Remember, manufacturers advertise that their ingredients may change at any time, re-read labels often.

www.coloradoallergy.com | September 15, 2010 | ho031.03 Page 1 of 1