Home → Seeds and foods with “nuts” in the name

Allergies to seeds and foods with “nuts” in the name

Our factsheet includes information about:

  • Pine nuts
  • Chestnuts
  • Nutmeg
  • Coconut
  • Shea nuts

 

Please download the factsheet for more information.

Seeds and foods with "nuts" in the name factsheet

Download Now
title_img

What are the symptoms of a food allergy?

The symptoms of a food 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 (pronounced ana-fil-axis).

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. This may lead to collapse and loss of consciousness 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 one of these seeds or “nuts”, see your GP. The GP can refer you to an allergy clinic if needed, or if a supervised food challenge is needed. They can find a clinic in your area from British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI).

It’s important to get a referral even if your 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.

Read more about allergy testing

What can mean you’re at higher risk?

Some clues that you might be at higher risk of more serious reactions are:

  • you have already had a serious reaction, with any of the ‘ABC’ symptoms
  • you have asthma, especially if it is not well controlled
  • you have reacted to a tiny amount of the food.

 

If you have asthma and it is not well controlled, this could make an allergic reaction worse. Make sure you discuss this with your GP or allergy specialist and take any prescribed medicines.

symptoms to take note of anaphylaxis serious allergy

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) –EpiPen and Jext. 
  • Intranasal adrenaline – EURneffy, a needle-free nasal spray. (The 2 mg adult dose is available on prescription. A 1 mg dose for children weighing 15–30 kg has been approved by the MHRA but is not yet available on prescription; it is expected to become available in Autumn 2026).

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 seeds and foods with “nuts” in the name

Once you have been diagnosed with an allergy to a seed or other “nut”, you will need to avoid it and foods that contain it.

Read the ingredient lists on food packets carefully every time you shop. These foods are not included in the list of top 14 major food allergens in the UK. This means they will normally be listed as an ingredient on the label, but they won’t be highlighted, 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 not required by law to provide information about ingredients that are not included in the top 14 major food allergens. This means you will need to ask staff directly if the food you’d like to buy contains the food you’re allergic to and if there is a risk of cross-contamination. Let them know that even small quantities can cause a reaction and don’t be afraid to ask staff to check with the chef.

Key messages

  • If you or your child have allergic symptoms after eating seeds or any of these foods with “nuts” in the name, visit your GP.
  • These seeds and foods with “nuts” in the name are not in the same plant families as peanuts or tree nuts.
  • Always be guided by your allergy specialist on which foods to avoid.
  • If you are prescribed adrenaline, carry two doses with you at all times.

Seeds and foods with "nuts" in the name factsheet

Download Now