Peanuts

Peanuts (groundnuts or monkey nuts in the UK) grow underground and are legumes, related to beans, peas and soy, not to nuts that grow on trees. A peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and a frequent cause of severe reactions. Tiny amounts can cause a reaction in some people, and cooking does not make peanuts safe. A doctor should diagnose a peanut allergy and give you a plan.

Substitutes

• Peanut butter: sunflower seed butter or another seed butter, if seeds are safe for you.
• Satay and peanut sauces: a sauce of coconut milk, sunflower seed butter, lime, soy sauce and chili.
• Crunch on top of a dish: toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, or crisp-fried shallots.

People with a peanut allergy may or may not also react to tree nuts, and some react to lupin, a related legume. Ask an allergist which foods you can eat.

Common mistakes

• Missing peanuts in satay, Thai and Indonesian curries and salads, West African groundnut stew, Chinese stir-fries such as kung pao chicken, Mexican mole, chili, granola, cookies and chocolate.
• Missing peanut oil. The UK name on labels is arachis oil.
• Sharing utensils, boards, jars of spread or frying oil with peanut foods. Cross-contamination is a real risk.
• Cleaning hands with sanitizer gel alone. Wash hands and surfaces with soap and water, which removes peanut protein.

In recipes

Peanuts are labeled in both the EU and the US, with one difference worth knowing:

• In the EU and the UK, peanuts are one of the 14 allergens. Peanut oil must be labeled, however refined it is.
• In the US, peanuts are one of the nine major allergens. Highly refined peanut oil is exempt from allergen labeling. Cold-pressed, expelled or extruded peanut oil is not.

"May contain peanuts" and "made in a factory that handles peanuts" are voluntary statements in both places. A product without one is not guaranteed to be peanut-free.

If you have a peanut allergy, read labels every time you buy, tell restaurant staff clearly, and talk to your doctor about what to do if you eat peanut by accident.