News Type:

“We were told it was safe”: a family’s call for better allergy care for young adults   10th April 2026

Saavan and his family have been navigating life with serious food allergies since early childhood. While they have worked tirelessly to manage his condition, inconsistent access to specialist care and limited treatment options have created significant challenges along the way.

Read more
“I’ve been asked to leave restaurants and sign disclaimers” 8th April 2026

Allergies are often associated with childhood — but they can develop at any stage of life. For Hong, that moment came at 30, when she was diagnosed with serious allergies. Almost overnight, she had to completely rethink her diet, with

Read more
“I didn’t want to make a fuss – so I took risks I shouldn’t have” 7th April 2026

Luke first experienced a serious allergic reaction aged three and from that moment on, everyday life became about constant vigilance and staying safe in situations most of us take for granted. That vigilance was sometimes met with misunderstanding, exclusion, and

Read more
ALP Nuneaton celebrates fourth consecutive Anaphylaxis UK Allergy Aware School Award 24th March 2026

Last month, Anaphylaxis UK and Jodie Gosling, MP for Nuneaton, visited ALP Nuneaton Specialist Independent School to celebrate staff and pupils after the school achieved the Anaphylaxis UK Allergy Aware School Award for the fourth consecutive year.  Around 8% of school children

Read more
Historic Commons announcement puts children’s allergy safety on a legal footing 11th March 2026

Press release shared on behalf of the National Allergy Strategy Group, of which Anaphylaxis UK is a member The National Allergy Strategy Group (NASG) welcomes last night’s House of Commons debate, in which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education,

Read more
Why allergy awareness matters in healthcare 9th March 2026

Allergies can impact almost every aspect of daily life — from school and travel to attending a hospital appointment. That is why Anaphylaxis UK advocates for a safer, allergy-aware approach across all environments. In healthcare settings, it may be assumed

Read more
Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions and Allergies: consultation launched 5th March 2026

A new Government consultation into allergy safety in schools launched today (5th March) following the announcement of Benedict’s Law coming into effect from September.  The consultation on Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions and Allergies at school aims to deliver the core elements of the Benedict’s Law campaign, including spare adrenaline devices in schools, improved allergy training

Read more
Anaphylaxis UK at the Allergy & Free From Show 2nd March 2026

We’re excited to announce that Anaphylaxis UK will be returning to the Allergy & Free From Show on 9-10 May 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham. The only dedicated health show focused on the free-from market in the UK, this annual

Read more
Have your say on allergen information when eating out in Scotland  25th February 2026

Food Standards Scotland has launched a public consultation on how allergen and ingredient information is provided for non-prepacked foods — including meals from restaurants, cafés, takeaways and bakeries. This consultation is open until 17 May 2026.  Clear, accurate allergen information is essential for people

Read more

Home→Living with Serious Allergies→Factsheets

Supported by an educational grant from DBV

What are peanut allergy and tree nut allergy?

Peanut and tree nut allergies are types of food allergy. Food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system wrongly identifies a food as a threat. When this happens, the body releases chemicals, such as histamine, in response to exposure to the food. It is the release of these chemicals that causes the allergic symptoms

The peanut is a legume and is in the same plant family as peas, beans and lentils. Tree nuts are in different plant families and include almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashew nuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios and macadamia nuts. As the plant families are different, many people only react to peanuts but not to any tree nuts, and vice versa.

Many people who are allergic to tree nuts are only allergic to one type of tree nut, but some are allergic to more. For example, it’s quite common for people with cashew nut allergy to be allergic to pistachios, and for people with walnut allergy to be allergic to pecans.

Peanut and tree nut allergies are common – they are the most commonly known foods to cause anaphylaxis. About 1 in 50 children and 1 in 200 adults in the UK have a nut allergy.

Download our peanut and tree nut allergy factsheet

Download the factsheet

Pollen food syndrome and peanuts and tree nuts

Allergic reactions to peanuts and tree nuts can happen because a person already has hay fever caused by an allergy to pollen. This is called a ‘secondary’ nut allergy and happens because of “cross-reactivity”, where the proteins in pollen are similar to the proteins in nuts. The most common nuts involved are hazelnuts, almonds and peanuts.

Reactions are very rarely serious and often include itching or swelling in the mouth.

Read more about pollen food syndrome
title_img

What are the symptoms of peanut and tree nut allergy?

The symptoms of peanut and tree nut allergy usually come on quickly, within minutes of eating the food.

Mild to moderate symptoms may include: 

  • a red raised itchy rash (known as hives or urticaria) anywhere on the body  
  • swelling of the face, lips and/or eyes  
  • a tingling or itchy feeling in the mouth 
  • mild throat tightness 
  • stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhoea 

More serious symptoms (anaphylaxis)

The term for this more serious reaction is anaphylaxis (ana-fil-ax-is).

Most healthcare professionals consider an allergic reaction to be anaphylaxis when it involves difficulty breathing or affects the heart rhythm or blood pressure. Any one or more of the ABC symptoms above may be present.

In extreme cases there could be a dramatic fall in blood pressure. The person may become weak and floppy and may have a sense of something terrible happening. Any of the ABC symptoms may lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal.

More serious symptoms are often referred to as the ABC symptoms and can include:
  • right_arrow_orange_icon AIRWAY - swelling in the throat, tongue or upper airways, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing
  • right_arrow_orange_icon BREATHING - sudden onset wheezing, breathing difficulty, noisy breathing, persistent cough
  • right_arrow_orange_icon CIRCULATION - dizziness, feeling faint, sudden sleepiness, confusion, pale clammy skin, loss of consciousness or collapse
Read more about anaphylaxis

Getting a diagnosis

If you think you or your child may be allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, see your GP who can refer you to a specialist allergy clinic. They can find a clinic in your area from the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI).

It’s important to get a referral even if the symptoms were mild because it can be hard to tell if future allergic reactions could be more serious.

Once you get a referral, the consultant will discuss your medical history and symptoms with you. They might suggest skin prick tests, blood tests, and food challenge tests to help diagnose the allergy and work out how serious it may be.

If you have reacted to one type of nut, the tests are likely to include a range of nuts to work out which ones are safe for you to eat.

Read more about allergy testing

Treating symptoms

If you have mild allergic symptoms, you may be prescribed antihistamine medicine that you take by mouth. But if you are at risk of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), you may be prescribed adrenaline – the emergency medicine used to treat anaphylaxis. It is also known as epinephrine. 

Because anaphylaxis can happen very quickly, adrenaline is available in different forms that are designed to be easy to use. It’s important to know exactly how and when to use your prescribed adrenaline.  Healthcare professionals can show you how to use it, and there are also resources such as practice devices and videos on manufacturer websites. 

Options currently available on prescription in the UK include: 

  • Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) – such as EpiPen and Jext. 
  • Intranasal adrenaline – EURneffy, a needle-free nasal spray. 

You must carry two in-date forms of prescribed adrenaline at all times as a second dose may be needed if symptoms do not improve after five minutes or get worse.  

Find out more about adrenaline. 

Read more about what to do in an emergency

Avoiding foods that contain nuts

Once you have been diagnosed with a peanut or tree nut allergy, you will need to avoid the nut or nuts you’re allergic to.

Read the ingredient lists on food packets carefully every time you shop. Peanuts and tree nuts are included in the list of top 14 major food allergens in the UK. This means they must be highlighted on ingredients labels, in bold for example.

Read the ingredient list every time you buy a product as manufacturers change their recipes often.

  • When eating out

    Restaurants, cafes, hotels, takeaways and other catering businesses are required by law to provide information on major allergens, including nuts and peanuts. Ask staff directly if the food you’d like to buy contains nuts or peanuts and if there is a risk of cross-contamination.  Let them know that even small quantities can cause a reaction. Don’t be afraid to ask staff to check with the chef.

    Read about shopping and preparing food.

  • These foods often contain peanuts or tree nuts

    • satay sauce
    • pesto sauce
    • marzipan and praline
    • salads and dressings
    • multicultural cuisines (especially Thai, Indian and Chinese)
    • vegetarian dishes such as nut loaf and nut roast
    • vegetarian and vegan products
    • gluten-free alternatives
    • cakes, breads, biscuits and pastries
    • muesli and granola
    • cereal bars
    • chocolates and other confectionery
    • ice cream and desserts
    • snack foods
    • peanut shoots – these look similar to bean sprouts

  • What about tree nut oils?

    If you are allergic to tree nuts, avoid oils made from the nuts as well. Nut oils can be used for frying, baking and to make salad dressings.

    Tree nut oils are also used in some medicines, toiletries and cosmetics. It’s difficult to know whether these could cause a reaction so it’s safest to avoid them completely. In cosmetics, they are labelled in Latin.

    For more information about which foods and products can contain specific nuts and nut oils, see the list further down in this factsheet.

  • What about peanut oil?

    Research has shown that refined peanut oil will not cause allergic reactions in most people with peanut allergy. This is because it contains no or very little peanut protein, which is the part that causes allergy.

    Read more about peanut oil.

Should I avoid other types of nuts?

Some people with peanut allergy may be allergic to tree nuts, and some people with a tree nut allergy may be allergic to peanuts.

If you have a tree nut allergy, it’s possible to be allergic to more than one type of nut. For example, it’s quite common for people with cashew nut allergy to be allergic to pistachios, and for people with walnut allergy to be allergic to pecans.

If you have a peanut or tree nut allergy, it’s important to have allergy testing for other nuts so you know what’s safe to eat and what to avoid. It’s good to eat the nuts you are not allergic to as this helps avoid developing an allergy to those nuts in the future.

Only introduce other nuts into your diet after allergy testing and talking to your specialist to make sure they’re safe for you. You will also need to make sure there has not been cross-contamination between different nuts, such as in a packet of mixed nuts.

title_img

Be aware of cross-contamination with other nuts

When eating other nuts you are not allergic to, be aware of the risk of cross-contamination. It’s possible that one type of nut will come into contact with other types during food production. Eating nuts from the shells can help reduce this risk.

Are there any other foods I might be allergic to?

  • Foods with ‘nut’ in the name?

    Some foods have ‘nut’ in the name but are not tree nuts, such as pine nuts, coconut, nutmeg and chestnut. If you have never had a reaction to any of these foods, it’s likely that they are safe for you to eat.

  • Legumes?

    Peanuts are legumes, and a small number of people with peanut allergy may react to other legumes such as lupin, soya, peas, chickpeas, fenugreek, beans and lentils.

  • Sesame seeds?

    If you’re allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts, you may be more likely to have a sesame seed allergy.

    Speak to your allergy specialist to make sure you know what’s safe to eat.

Can you identify peanuts and tree nuts?

Know your nuts

Findings from the Wotnut study (21 June 2023), which assessed nut recognition in children with and without nut allergy and their parents or guardians, showed that while parents and guardians recognised nuts more reliably than children, mistakes were still common highlighting a need for improved education for dietary confidence and nut avoidance.

Images reproduced with permission of  F. Heraghty, Children’s Health Ireland, from the Wotnut study  DOI: 10.1111/cea.14364

Download the poster

Which foods and cosmetics contain tree nuts?

Is contact through touch or smell a risk?

People with peanut and allergy often worry that touching or smelling nuts could cause a serious reaction, but research suggests this is not common.

One small study showed that when 30 children with serious peanut allergy had contact with peanut butter through touch or smell, none of them experienced anaphylaxis and none reacted to smell. A third had a mild reaction to touch including redness, itching or rash in a small area, but these were not serious, and no medication was needed. The researchers concluded that at least nine out of ten children with similar allergies would not have a serious reaction to touch or smell, but the study only looked at peanut butter, not other forms of peanut.

In another study, 84 children were positioned half a meter away from a bowl of peanuts for half an hour and none of them had a moderate or serious reaction. The researchers also collected peanut proteins from the air and the amounts of peanut protein were so small they were very unlikely to be able to cause moderate or serious allergic reactions. These studies only looked at peanuts, but there is no reason to think that tree nuts would be any different.

title_img

What are the risks during air travel?

Some people with nut allergies have had symptoms when travelling on aeroplanes.

As nut proteins don’t easily become airborne, the most likely sources of nut exposure during flights are:

  • dust from the nuts on unwashed surfaces that comes into contact with your mouth or eyes by accident – take wet wipes with you and clean surfaces such as fold-down trays as soon as you get to your seat.
  • believing that a food does not contain nuts when in fact it does.

 

Speak to your doctor or allergy specialist about travelling safely by plane. If you think you have reacted to breathing in nut protein in the past, then contact the airline well in advance to ask that nuts are not given out on your flight.

 

Will the allergy be lifelong?

Between about one in five and one in ten children are thought to outgrow their nut allergies. This usually happens by the age of 4 or 5, but the age at which this happens varies so it’s helpful for your child to have regular reviews with their allergy specialist.

Hopes for the future

New treatments for peanut allergies have been studied intensively over the last decade and options are now emerging, including:

  • oral immunotherapy – there is already a licenced treatment for peanut allergy in children aged 4-17 that has been approved for use on the NHS.
  • epicutaneous immunotherapy (skin patches)
  • peanut allergy vaccines
  • new medicines known as “biologicals” which switch-off steps in the immune process that lead to an allergic reaction.

 

Desensitisation treatment for younger children is becoming more widespread. Read our factsheet on Immunotherapy and keep an eye on our Latest News for updates.

Key messages

  • If you think you may have a peanut or tree nut allergy, visit your GP.
  • If you are prescribed adrenaline, carry two devices with you at all times.
  • Read food labels carefully and question staff in restaurants, takeaways and anywhere you eat out of home.
  • Always be guided by your allergy specialist on which foods to avoid.
  • There is hope for the future with major advances in the development of treatments for peanut allergy.

Download our peanut and tree nut allergy factsheet

Download the factsheet

Found this helpful? Please consider a donation to support our factsheet development

Donate now