(Pink peppercorn is not the same as black peppercorn.) 5 4 Those with a cashew allergy also may be at a higher risk for allergy to pink peppercorn (aka Brazilian pepper, rose pepper, and Christmasberry), which is employed as a spice. 4Ĭashews and pistachios share similar allergenic proteins, so those who react to cashews may also react to pistachios and vice versa.

The most common cross-reactivities with cashews are plant foods, e.g., tree nuts, fruits, soybeans, vegetables, and legumes. This is called cross-reactivity and occurs when your body's immune system identifies the proteins, or components, in different substances as being structurally similar or biologically related, thus triggering a response.

Some people with a cashew nut allergy may also experience symptoms when eating other seemingly unrelated foods. Nonfood items that may contain tree nuts include: 4 bean bags, bird seeds, cosmetics, hair care products, sunscreens, massage oils, and pet foods.Īre there other allergens I could be sensitized to?* 6 Asian restaurants can be especially problematic because they often use nuts and seeds in their cuisine, and since pans may be used for multiple meal preparations, there's an inherent risk for cross-contamination. The following items may contain tree nuts and seeds: 4 baked goods, baking mixes, barbeque and pesto sauces, cereals, chocolates, pralines, crackers, dressings, gravies, flavored coffees, frozen desserts, muesli, nougats, almond chicken, pad thai, chili and trout amandines and giandujas (i.e., chocolate blended with hazel nuts), marzipans (i.e., almond paste), almond milks, nut milks, tree nut oils, spreads (e.g., cheese spreads and chocolate nut spreads such as Nutella, which contains hazelnuts), vegetarian dishes, Indian curries, Asian dishes, pastas, liqueurs (e.g., amaretto and Frangelico), natural flavorings and extracts (e.g., pure almond extract), salads, trail mixes, and snack foods.Īlso note that the words 'natural flavors' and 'botanicals' may indicate the presence of nuts or nut flavorings. 8 And to improve texture, cashews are sometimes used as a replacement for pine nuts, which are comparatively more expensive. 1,8 Plus, Thai, Indian, and Chinese cuisines tend to incorporate cashews. 1Ĭashew nuts may be found in sources such as Asian dishes, bakery items, sweets, ice creams, butters, cakes, chocolates, and pestos. registry of people with tree nut allergies, 20 percent of people were allergic to cashews, and the nut was the second most common cause of tree nut allergy. 3 Despite their nutritional value, however, cashews are a common cause of allergy. 1 Rich in protein, cashews are derived from an evergreen shrub or tree in the sumac family, but despite being commonly called tree nuts, they're actually edible seeds that are shaped like thick, curved beans. The following nine varieties account for the majority of tree nut allergies: walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamias, Brazil nuts, and pine nuts. And unfortunately, compared to other food allergies, the chances of outgrowing these allergies are lower and restricted to an estimated 10 percent of sensitized individuals. Prevalence for tree nut allergy varies by age, region, and the definitions used for diagnosis, but it appears to affect 0.05 to 7.3 percent of the population. 2 In fact, together, peanuts and tree nuts account for 70 to 90 percent of reported food-related anaphylactic fatalities. And while peanuts are actually legumes, approximately 20 to 30 percent of those with a peanut allergy are also allergic to one or more types of tree nuts. 1 Roughly 30 percent of people with a tree nut allergy are allergic to more than one nut.

These types of allergies typically develop by the age of 2, and the number of tree nuts to which a person is allergic may increase with age. Allergies to tree nuts such as cashew nuts are common and often severe.

Cashew allergy symptoms