Peanut Allergy Foods To Avoid​?

Living with a peanut allergy means you have to be extra careful about what you eat. It is more than just skipping a handful of peanuts. Peanuts hide in many foods. Even a tiny bit can cause a serious reaction. This guide will help you know what foods to avoid. It will make your daily life safer and easier.

The Obvious Foods to Avoid

Let’s start with the easy stuff. These are the foods that clearly contain peanuts or peanut products. You should always avoid them.

✔ Peanuts: This is the big one. Avoid them whole, roasted, or boiled.
✔ Peanut Butter: This is a key ingredient in many snacks and baked goods.
✔ Peanut Flour, Peanut Protein, and Nutmeat: These are common peanut derivatives.
✔ Arachis Oil: This is just another name for peanut oil. While highly refined peanut oil is sometimes safe, it is safest to avoid all peanut oils. Especially avoid cold-pressed, expelled, or extruded peanut oil. These types have more peanut protein left in them.
✔ Mixed Nuts and Beer Nuts: These are often processed with peanuts. It is best to skip them.
✔ Goober Nuts or Monkey Nuts: These are just different names for peanuts.
✔ Mandelonas: These are peanuts soaked in almond flavoring. They are not safe.

If the ingredient label uses any of these names, put the product back on the shelf.

The Sneaky Hidden Sources of Peanut

This is where things get tricky. Peanuts can hide in foods you would not expect. Many of these are processed foods or ethnic dishes.

Ethnic and World Cuisines

Many delicious foods from around the world use peanuts. They might use them as an ingredient or for flavor.

✔ Asian Cuisine: Think about Thai, Chinese, or Vietnamese food. Peanuts are often in spring rolls, egg rolls, sauces, and noodle dishes. Satay sauce is a classic example.
✔ African and Mexican Dishes: Peanuts can be used as a thickener in things like chili, mole sauce, or various stews. Always ask about the ingredients.
✔ Curry Pastes and Sauces: Some recipes use ground peanuts for texture and flavor.

Baked Goods and Desserts

Commercial bakeries are risky. Peanuts or peanut flour can be an ingredient. Cross-contamination is also a huge risk.

✔ Cookies, Cakes, and Pastries: They might use peanuts or be made on shared equipment.
✔ Candy and Chocolates: Check every label. Peanut butter cups are obvious. But many chocolate bars, fun-size candies, and nougat-filled treats contain peanuts.
✔ Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts: Peanut butter flavors are out. But toppings, mix-ins, and shared scoops can also cause problems.
✔ Marzipan: Though typically almond-based, some products contain peanuts or traces of them.
✔ Praline: This delicious coating or candy often uses peanuts.

Other Surprising Places

Peanuts can sneak into many everyday items.

✔ Cereals and Granola: Granola and breakfast cereals often include peanuts or are made on shared lines.
✔ Crackers and Snack Foods: Be careful with trail mixes, energy bars, and flavored crackers.
✔ Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) and Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP): In some imported foods, these proteins can come from peanuts. In the US, they are usually soy-based, but checking is always best.
✔ Pet Food: Believe it or not, some pet foods contain peanut butter. Be careful if you handle pet treats.
✔ Glazes and Marinades: Sometimes, peanuts are used in the ingredients for a complex flavor.
✔ Lupin (Lupine): This is a legume, just like the peanut. It is becoming a common flour substitute, especially in gluten-free products. People with a peanut allergy can also react to lupin. Ask your allergist if you need to avoid it.

Understanding “May Contain” Warnings

Some labels have warnings like “May contain peanuts” or “Made in a facility that also processes peanuts.” This means there is a risk of cross-contact. Cross-contact happens when a safe food touches a food with an allergen. This can happen in the factory on shared equipment.
These warnings are voluntary. They are not required by law. Most experts recommend avoiding foods with these warnings. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Need Expert Guidance on Allergies?

A peanut allergy is a serious medical condition. It requires professional, personalized care.
If you or your child is struggling to manage a food allergy or if you need clarity on which foods are safe, we can help.

Juniper Allergy specializes in providing personalized care to adults and children with allergies, asthma, and immunologic conditions. We focus on clear diagnosis, education, and creating an individualized management plan just for you.

Contact Juniper Allergy today to schedule a consultation with an experienced Allergy Specialist in San Antonio, TX. We are here to help you live a better, allergy-free life.