Tree Nut

How to Read a Label for a Tree Nut-Free Diet

All FDA-regulated manufactured food products that contain a tree nut as an ingredient are required by U.S. law to list the specific tree nut on the product label.

Avoid foods that contain nuts or any of these ingredients:

  • almonds
  • artificial nuts
  • beechnut
  • Brazil nuts
  • butternut
  • cashews
  • chestnuts
  • chinquapin
  • coconut
  • filberts/hazelnuts
  • gianduja (a chocolate-nut mixture)
  • ginkgo nut
  • hickory nuts
  • litchi/lichee/lychee nut
  • macadamia nuts
  • marzipan/almond paste
  • Nangai nuts
  • natural nut extract (e.g., almond, walnut)
  • nut butters (e.g., cashew butter)
  • nut meal
  • nut paste (e.g., almond paste)
  • nut pieces
  • nutmeat
  • pecans
  • pesto
  • pili nut
  • pine nuts (also referred to as Indian, pignoli, pigñolia, pignon, piñon, and pinyon nuts)
  • pistachios
  • praline
  • shea nut
  • walnuts

Tree nuts are sometimes found in the following:

  • black walnut hull extract (flavoring)
  • natural nut extract
  • nut distillates/alcoholic extracts
  • nut oils (e.g., walnut oil, almond oil)
  • walnut hull extract (flavoring)

Keep the following in mind:

  • Mortadella may contain pistachios.
  • There is no evidence that coconut oil and shea nut oil/butter are allergenic.
  • Many experts advise patients allergic to tree nuts to avoid peanuts as well.
  • Talk to your doctor if you find other nuts not listed here.

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