Are almonds considered a "tree nut" in terms of allergies?

[Peek-a-boo]

There's a child at DD's preschool with a tree nut allergy.  Does anyone know if almonds are considered a tree nut in terms of allergies?  I understand that technically they are not a nut, but I'm not sure in terms of allergies.

I'm not planning food to feed the allergic child, just food to send in DD's lunch. 

[Buntybear]

Have just googled it and yes almonds are a tree nut. It is peanuts that aren't a tree nut but are a legume.

[Lemonthyme]

I work in food and yes, almonds are 'tree nuts'.  Pretty much all nuts apart from peanuts (which grow underground) are tree nuts.  I believe pine nuts aren't considered 'nuts' but that's pretty much the only thing.

[Peek-a-boo]

Okay--interesting.  I had read that they aren't actually a nut, but rather a pit--like a peach pit--so I was thinking they might be okay.

[Lemonthyme]

Well that's true but they're still classed as tree nuts under eu legislation so I imagine that means they're a common allergy causing food.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

I just learned my something new today Bethany!  Almonds aren't really nuts!  They are in the same class as peaches and apricots and are called drupes...who knew.  Oh, and coconut is in that botanical class too.  But, from an allergy point of view almonds and coconut are considered tree nuts by the FDA:

http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/FDABasicsforIndustry/ucm238807.htm


HTH 

[Peek-a-boo]

Coconut is considered a tree nut??  Interesting.  Thanks!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Coconut is considered a tree nut??  Interesting.  Thanks!

I know, it's kind of weird, but I guess they lump them all together for allergen info purposes and kind of disregard the fact that they aren't actually nuts.  Maybe because the allergies are so prevalent that it is the best way to ensure they are properly labelled for?

ETA...apparently in Canada they don't go quite as far, they only include 9 of the tree nuts from that FDA list in their priority allergens. Who knew?

[*Amy*]

So if that is the case is peanut butter ok for someone with a nut allergy?

[Lemonthyme]

Ah, now in the EU coconuts aren't considered a nut!  Here are the list of common allergens which have to be labelled:

Cereals containing gluten and products thereof
Crustaceans and products thereof
Eggs and products thereof
Fish and products thereof
Peanuts and products thereof
Soybeans and products thereof
Milk and products thereof (including lactose)
Nuts i.e. almond, hazelnut, walnut, cashew, pecan nut, brazil nut, pistachio nut, macademia nut and queensland nut and products thereof
Celery and products thereof
Mustard and products thereof
Sesame seeds and products thereof
Sulphur dioxide and sulphites at concentrations of more than 10mg/kg or 10 mg/litre expressed as SO2
Lupin and products thereof
Molluscs and products thereof

But any food with protein in can cause an allergic response, these are just the common ones in the EU.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

So if that is the case is peanut butter ok for someone with a nut allergy?

In come cases a person could have an allergy to a tree nut and be able to have peanuts, but I think that most Dr's would caution people with one allergy not to eat any nuts (cross contamination can be an issue too) You could also be allergic to a specific tree nut and be fine with all the others.

Here there are a top 11 that have to have labelled in Canada:  peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, sulphites and mustard.