- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- recipes today articles
- recipes today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Expert Q&A
 |  |  |
| By Leanne Ely Leanne Ely, C.N.C., Certified Nutrition Consultant | ||
 |
We just found out that our son has a severe peanut allergy. What other names are used to label products that may contain peanuts?
It's irritating because you can't get always get a straight answer on labels. For example, if you see "hydrolyzed vegetable protein" on the label, that could mean there is peanuts in there. Also, "groundnuts" is ambiguous enough, but that too could contain peanuts. "Vegetable oil" could mean peanut oil. A lot of candy needs to be avoided, especially chocolate although peanuts aren't necessarily in there in a chunky, see-able form.
I would hope your allergist gave you a comprehensive list of foods and products to avoid -- your doctor would be a better source than me because he or she knows the extent of your child's allergy. In addition to that list of food, you need to let the parents of your child's friends, daycare workers, teachers, etc. know that your son has this allergy, make sure they have the list and show them how to use an Epi-Pens, if your son's peanut allergy is life-threatening. By all means, get your child an allergy bracelet that says "Allergy to Peanuts." You are your child's best advocate and you need to put the world on alert.
You didn't say how old your son is, but if he's old enough, he may enjoy a cute interactive site www.nonutsforme.com. The site has a story, interactive puzzle and cartoon that explains what having a nut allergy means in an easy to understand, kid-to-kid way.
Related Expert Q&A
- Can snacks be a positive part of my child's diet?
- My child won't eat anything without dipping it in ketchup. What can I do?
- My child dips everything in ketchup. Can this ruin a balanced diet?
- My son's lips get bright red and cracked. What causes this, and how can I prevent this?
- Can you tell me about the most common prescriptions given to children?
More Answers by this Expert
- My 3-year-old eats very few foods and will not try new things. What can I do?
- What is Sucanat?
- How can I incorporate more fiber into my child's diet?
- My child is a very picky eater and tends to eat a lot of convenience foods. Can you suggest any kid-friendly, healthy alternatives?
- We just found out that our son has a severe peanut allergy. What other names are used to label products that may contain peanuts?