The big question: What is the difference between peanuts and tree-nuts?

Peanuts are considered as legumes, a term that comes from the Latin verb “to gather”. The peanut family includes peas, beans, lentils and soy.

Tree nuts is what most people with allergies to nuts come from, such as, almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachio nuts and walnuts.

Anyone suffering form peanut allergies should avoid all food products that contain peanut and peanut derivatives.  This includes any product that warns that it may contain or may contain traces of peanut.

Consumers may be aware of cross-contamination through transfer of an ingredient ot a product.  Cross-contamination can occur in the food manufactures during production or packaging. Only products that are labelled peanut and nut free can truly make the claim that their products are manufactured and packaged in a peanut and nut free facility.

How does a Peanut Allergy Develop?

Allergies to peanuts can develop at any point in life and is an allergy that needs to be paid attention to.  An allergy to peanuts is one of the most serious allergies that has developed amongst children in Canada and the United States and the rate is climbing in the First World countries. The exact cause of a peanut allergy is unknown at the moment and no matter how small the case the allergy can be it is a lethal allergy. It is important to be respectful to people with allergies as even the smell or just the touch of peanuts will stimulate a reaction.

It is not easy accommodating to someone who has developed a peanut allergy but it is necessary to take precautions around people that are allergic to peanuts. The symptoms of an allergy to peanuts are swelling, trouble breathing, and gastrointestinal discomfort, collapse of blood pressure, heart failure and even death.

Those allergic to peanuts should avoid any form or dose of peanuts at all costs. The smallest reaction can lead to a bigger reaction. It is also important to respond immediately to someone who is having an allergic reaction to peanuts since it can only take about as little as 20 seconds to kill the sufferer.

Being allergic to peanuts is not a joke. More and more schools today are becoming peanut free schools. Children who are allergic to peanuts understand less about having allergy reactions and may not respond to one as quickly as adult would.  Schools want children to be safe around the lunch room. This is a good start to making children understand the danger of this ugly and deadly allergy. With this act in motion it will help children and even children who are not allergic to understand that some foods can kill their classmates and even their good friends due to just the smell or contact of peanuts.

There are more and more companies that are making foods that are peanut free. Such products are made by Nestle: Kit Kat, Coffee Crisp, Aero, and Smarties, Lambert Ice Cream, Chapmans Peanut Free Ice Cream, the new Peanut Free Mars Bar, there are also new substitutes for peanut butter in the form of soy butter.