Peanut allergy: where it hides in an ingredients list
Peanuts are not nuts, but legumes, and they often appear in unexpected places: peanut oil is found where nuts are neither present nor expected.
Names it appears under
- peanut oil
- peanut butter
- peanut flour
- hydrolyzed vegetable protein
- groundnut
Where you expect it
- peanuts
- peanut butter
- snacks
- gozinaki
- snack bars
Where you do not
- Asian sauces
- baked goods and cookies
- chocolates
- vegetable frying oils
- granola and muesli
- meat marinades
Frequently asked questions
- Are peanuts nuts?
- No, they are legumes, closer to peas and beans. Therefore, a peanut allergy and a tree nut allergy are different things, although they can occur together.
- What does "may contain traces of peanuts" mean?
- This is a voluntary label regarding the risk of cross-contamination during production. It is not regulated as strictly as the ingredient list, and its absence does not rule out risk.
Check the package rather than remember the list. Photograph the barcode and the app reads the ingredients and flags what you marked.
Other allergens: Milk · Egg · Tree nuts · Fish · Crustaceans · Mollusks · Soy · Gluten · all fourteen
This reference is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor.