Another nut allergy question...

sunnydays99

Ive been seeing different info on coconut. Is this something I should avoid in a nut free school?

LoveEeyore

That one I would ask.  My kids are nutty and I had NO idea it was a tree nut- I always thought it was a fruit like pineapple.  So embarassed- but I didn't know!!

macchiatto

I would ask, too. Will had a peanut allergy and we were never told to avoid coconuts.

Court0026

I would ask too.  All of our doctors say that it isn't a tree nut, but to still proceed with caution.  Many places still consider it a tree nut (especially for labeling purposes).

mrsseguin

My brother has a nut allergy and it does include coconut.  I would avoid it.

sunnydays99

Thanks again ladies!! Man, nut allergies, and all other allergies, suck!!

Littlejen22

macchiatto:

I would ask, too. Will had a peanut allergy and we were never told to avoid coconuts.

Because peanuts are legumes and not tree nuts. If you were told to avoid all tree nuts then it would include coconuts since it is a tree nut.

I would not send it because it is a nut. Just like tomato is a fruit even if people treat it like a vegetable and think of it like a vegetable, does not make it a fruit. Thinking of coconut as a fruit does not change the fact that it is a nut.

luvmagoldn

Coconut is not a tree nut. The FDA mistakenly lumped it in with other tree nuts which has caused a ton of confusion. From the FAAN website: "Should coconut be avoided by someone with a tree nut allergy? Discuss this with your doctor. Coconut, the seed of a drupaceous fruit, has typically not been restricted in the diets of people with tree nut allergy. However, in October of 2006, the FDA began identifying coconut as a tree nut. The available medical literature contains documentation of a small number of allergic reactions to coconut; most occurred in people who were not allergic to other tree nuts. Ask your doctor if you need to avoid coconut."

Littlejen22

That is weird because all of the places I have read have considered it a nut. Luckily my kids do not have food allergies so I apologize if I was wrong. I do think asking the teacher or school will not help get a good answer if it needs to be avoided, I'd they say no nuts and the FDA considers it a tree nut then I would expect it to be considered. In my DS' preschool I talked to the parents of the kids with allergies because it was very important to my son not to exclude his friends from treats but I know this year would be harder in public school to find out while has allergies and what they are allergic to.

lmdbww

I have also seen coconut on tons of Avoid lists so I would avoid it, too

Jen748

Court0026:

I would ask too.  All of our doctors say that it isn't a tree nut, but to still proceed with caution.  Many places still consider it a tree nut (especially for labeling purposes).

Our Dr told us it was "technically" a tree nut...but that she wasn't too concerned about DD avoiding it.