Peanut is one of eight allergens with specific labeling requirements under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004. Under that law, manufacturers of packaged food products sold in the U.S. and containing peanuts as an ingredient must include the presence of peanuts, in clear language, on the ingredient label.
To avoid the risk of anaphylactic shock, people with a peanut allergy must be very careful about what they eat. Peanuts and peanut products are commonly found in candies, cereals and baked goods, such as cookies, cakes and pies. If you’re eating out, ask the restaurant staff about ingredients - for example, peanut butter may be an ingredient in a sauce or marinade. Be extra careful when eating Asian and Mexican food and other cuisines in which peanuts are commonly used. Even ice cream parlors may not be safe for people with a peanut allergy, since peanuts are a common topping.
Foods that don’t contain peanuts as an ingredient can be contaminated by peanuts in the manufacturing process or during food preparation. As a result, people with a peanut allergy should avoid products that bear precautionary statements on the label, such as “may contain peanuts” or “made in a factory that uses nut ingredients.” Note that the use of those advisory labels is voluntary, and not all manufacturers do so.
If you’re cooking from scratch, it’s easy to modify recipes to remove peanut ingredients and substitute ingredients that aren’t allergens, such as toasted oats, raisins or seeds. Some people who can’t tolerate peanuts or eat peanut butter can consume other nut or seed butters. Keep in mind that these products may be manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts - so check the label carefully and contact the manufacturer with any questions.
Many individuals with an allergy to peanuts can safely consume foods made with highly refined peanut oil, which has been purified, refined, bleached and deodorized to remove the peanut protein from the oil. Unrefined peanut oil - often characterized as extruded, cold-pressed, aromatic, gourmet, expelled or expeller-pressed - still contains peanut protein and should be avoided. Some products may use the phrase “arachis oil” on their ingredient lists; that’s another term for peanut oil. If you have a peanut allergy, ask an allergist whether you should avoid all types of peanut oil.
While some people report symptoms such as skin rashes or chest tightness when they are around or smell peanut butter, a placebo-controlled trial of children exposed to open peanut butter containers documented no systemic reactions. Still, food particles containing peanut proteins can become airborne during the grinding or pulverization of peanuts, and inhaling peanut protein in this type of situation could cause an allergic reaction. In addition, odors may cause conditioned physical responses, such as a skin rash or a change in blood pressure.
Can peanut allergy be prevented?
An allergist can set your child on the right track to handle peanut allergies. In 2017, the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) issued updated guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy, creating separate guidelines for infants at high, moderate and low risk for developing peanut allergy. The guidelines also address how to proceed with introduction of peanut-containing foods based on risk in order to prevent the development of peanut allergy.
The updated guidelines are a breakthrough for the prevention of peanut allergy. Peanut allergy has become much more prevalent in recent years, and there is now a roadmap to prevent many new cases.
According to the new guidelines, an infant at high risk of developing peanut allergy is one with severe eczema and/or egg allergy. The guidelines recommend introduction of peanut-containing foods as early as 4-6 months for high-risk infants who have already started solid foods, after determining that it is safe to do so.
For a child determined to be at high risk, the new guidelines recommend evaluation by an allergy specialist, which may involve peanut allergy testing, followed by trying peanut-containing food for the first time in the specialist’s office. Even if the results of allergy testing are positive, the specialist won’t know for certain if the child is truly allergic. Peanut allergy is diagnosed only if there is both a positive test and a history of developing symptoms after eating peanut-containing foods.
A positive test alone is a poor indicator of allergy, and studies have shown infants who have a peanut sensitivity aren’t necessarily allergic. The updated guidelines recommend that infants with a positive peanut skin test have peanut fed to them the first time in the specialist’s office. Some infants may have a large reaction to the skin test (8 mm or larger) which could indicate they are already peanut allergic. An allergist may decide not to have the child try peanut at all if they have a very large reaction to the skin test. Instead, they might advise that the child avoid peanuts completely due to the strong chance of a pre-existing peanut allergy. Other allergists may still proceed with a peanut challenge after explaining the risks and benefits to the parents.
Moderate risk children – those with mild to moderate eczema who have already started solid foods – do not need an evaluation. These infants can have peanut-containing foods introduced at home by their parents starting around six months of age. Parents can always consult with their primary health care provider if they have questions on how to proceed. Low risk children with no eczema or egg allergy can be introduced to peanut-containing foods according to the family’s preference, also around 6 months.
Parents should know that most infants are either moderate- or low-risk for developing peanut allergies, and most can have peanut-containing foods introduced at home. Whole peanuts should never be given to infants as they are a choking hazard. More information can be found here and also in the ACAAI video, “Introducing peanut-containing foods to prevent peanut allergy.”
Although parents want to do what’s best for their children, determining what “best” means isn’t always easy. So if your son or daughter is struggling with peanut allergies, take control of the situation and consult an allergist today.
