Your child has just been diagnosed with a tree nut allergy, and you feel like there’s a boogeyman lurking around every corner. You’re living in a world where everyday items suddenly seem to be stalking your child, a world that feels suddenly quite dangerous. And all you can think is, “How do I keep my child safe in this world?” A reliable tree nuts list is a good place to start. With this list in hand, you can check every label of each food you buy to make sure it’s safe for your child to eat.
Read Labels
Linda Coss, author of two books on cooking for food allergy sufferers and another designed to help parents manage their child’s allergies, says that it all starts with reading labels. Coss points out that current law requires food manufacturers to list the most common food allergens, including tree nuts, by easily recognizable names, like the ones on this tree nuts list:
- Almond
- Beechnut
- Brazil nut
- Bush nut
- Butternut
- Cashew
- Chestnut
- Coconut
- Filbert
- Ginko nut
- Hazelnut
- Hickory nut
- Lichee nut
- Macadamia nut
- Nangai nut
- Pecan
- Pine nut
- Pistachio
- Shea nut
- Walnut
Coss also suggests familiarizing yourself with the less-common, botanical and derivative names of the things your child is allergic to. In addition, it’s important to be aware that these allergens can sometimes be found in unexpected places, such as cereals, crackers, flavored coffee, frozen desserts, marinades, barbecue sauces and some cold cuts, such as mortadella. And, since manufacturers sometimes change the ingredients of their packaged foods, you have to read the label every time you purchase an item.
Understand Cross-Contamination
Hemant Sharma, MD, MHS, stresses that it’s important learn about prepared foods. Dr. Sharma, who’s the acting chief of the Division of Food Allergy and Immunology as well as director of the Food Allergy Program at Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C., explains that, even if you avoid prepared foods with nuts, cross-contamination can still be a problem. Food doesn’t have to contain the allergen to be dangerous. In bakeries, restaurants, delis, etc., utensils that touch an allergen can transfer minute amounts to items that are supposedly safe. Coss reiterates that cross-contamination can be a problem with packaged foods. “No warning label doesn’t mean it’s safe,” she says. “No warning label means you call and ask.” That’s because there are no laws regulating notices about possible cross-contamination.
Educate Your Contacts
It’s equally important to educate everyone who has contact with your child. “It’s not enough that they know not to give your child a cookie with nuts in it,” Coss explains. “They also have to know that it could be life-threatening for your child to touch anything that they had touched after they ate that cookie.”
Be Prepared
Be prepared to use your child’s epinephrine auto-injector on him at the first sign of a reaction, Coss emphasizes. She elaborates, “A lot of times parents are hesitant to use it, whether it’s because they don’t want to hurt their child or because they don’t want to go to the emergency room. But a five-minute delay can be the difference between life and death.” Use the Epi-pen while having someone call 911.
Find Perspective
Having a child diagnosed with a serious tree nut allergy is enough to make you afraid to leave the house. But Dr. Sharma, while acknowledging the seriousness of tree nut allergies, says that it’s also important to find perspective. “Fortunately, there are treatments that work,” he explains. “Accidents are going to happen, but, as long as you’re prepared, your child will be fine.”
Dr. Sharma says that many families find it helpful to speak with a psychologist or other counselor. “The fear can become overwhelming,” he explains. “A good psychologist can help you find a balance.” Dr. Sharma adds that there are psychologists who specialize in living with food allergies.
Having a child with tree nut allergies requires constant vigilance, especially for the parents of toddlers, who tend to put everything they see in their mouths. And it’s natural to have a period of mourning for the lifestyle you thought you would have. But, as Coss and Dr. Sharma both attest, there is still life after a food allergy diagnosis. The key is to educate yourself so you can avoid risks and be ready to act at the first sign of a crisis.
And check out these Tips for Raising a Child with Food Allergies.
Patti Podnar is a freelance writer with a degree in public relations and a 12-year track record of excellence in corporate communications. Today, Patti focuses primarily on topics related to families, business and careers.
* This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan. Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.
