Statistics from the US, Canada, England and Australia show that currently 0.8 to 3% of children and about 0.6 to 0.8% of adults suffer from peanut allergy. There are only a few adults affected by peanut allergy who developed their allergy after their 18th birthday. In other words: Peanut allergy usually starts during childhood. It is possible that children “grow out” of allergies, but it is unfortunately not that common. Most peanut allergy patients suffer from allergy symptoms their whole life.

Aside from peanut sauces, peanut flour and of course peanut butter, there are a lot of foods and dishes that often contain (trace of) peanuts:

• Cake

• Muffins

• Donuts

• Muesli

• Chocolate bars

• Cookies

• Salad dressing

• Fried foods

• Nougat

• Meat substitute products

• A lot of Chinese and Thai dishes

Despite their name, peanuts are not part of the tree nut family, they are legumes. Nevertheless, a lot of peanut allergy sufferers are also allergic to tree nuts.

Luckily, our 7DROPS allergy test covers everything. We not only test for peanut allergens, but also allergens from almond, hazelnut, Brazil nut, cashew, macadamia, pistachio, walnut, pine nuts and more. You can find the complete allergen list here.

An allergic reaction to peanuts occurs within minutes after consumption. Here are the possible symptoms:

• Runny nose

• Skin reactions like hives, redness and swelling

• Itching and tingling in and around the mouth region and throat

• Digestive problems such as stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting

• Constriction of the throat

• Shortness of breath

In the worst case, a peanut allergy can lead to anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires an injection of epinephrine (EpiPen).