How To Read Food Labels When Your Child Has a Peanut Allergy

If you’re responsible for a kid with a peanut allergy, you know that reading a food label isn’t just a casual glance: It’s a vital safety check. Knowing exactly what to look for can help you shop with confidence — and eventually teach your child to do the same.

Allergist Jaclyn Bjelac, MD, shares advice on what to look for in your foods.

What to look for on the food label

Peanuts are one of nine major food allergens that the United States requires to be declared on packaged food labels. That labeling makes it easier to suss out whether your food contains peanuts and peanut products. But it’s important to know where to look.

“Make a habit of reading the entire label, including the ingredients list and any allergen or cross-contact statements,” Dr. Bjelac advises.

And remember: Manufacturers can (and often do) change recipes and factories. That means the snack your child ate safely last month shouldn’t automatically get a pass today.

“Scrutinize the ingredients each and every time,” she advises.

Here’s what you’re looking for.

Ingredients list

Ingredient lists tell you everything that was purposely used to make a food product. And when you need to avoid peanuts, it’s a good place to start.

“You can’t reliably tell whether something contains peanuts based on what kind of food it is or what the front of the package says,” Dr. Bjelac clarifies. “It’s always best not to make any assumptions.”

Some peanut-containing foods are obvious. Peanut butter is a clear no-go, of course, but peanuts are also used in a wide range of foods you might not immediately associate with them. That may include:

• Baked goods
• Candy and chocolate
• Granola and energy bars
• Meat substitutes
• Trail mix
• Sauces

Peanut ingredient names

When you’re reading labels, you’re not just looking for “peanuts.” There’s a long list of terms that can be an indication that something contains peanuts, peanut products (like peanut flour or peanut oil) or other substances that may cause a reaction if you have a peanut allergy. Among them:

• Arachis oil (another name for peanut oil)
• Artificial nuts
• Beer nuts
• Cold-pressed, expelled or extruded peanut oil
• Ground nuts
• Lupin (or lupine)
• Mandelonas (peanuts soaked in almond flavoring)
• Mixed nuts
• Monkey nuts
• Nut meat or nut meal
• Nut pieces
• Peanut butter
• Peanut flour
• Peanut protein hydrolysate

‘Contains’ statement

Next, look for an allergen statement — a direct message on the package that makes it easier to spot allergens. This “Contains” statement should be immediately next to, or inside of, the ingredient list.

While the ingredient label can refer to peanuts by more technical names, the “Contains” statement is meant to make peanuts, peanut products and other allergens more obvious. It’s required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you see the wording “CONTAINS: PEANUTS,” avoid it!

But a statement that says “CONTAINS: TREE NUTS” is different. Peanut and tree nuts are separate allergens. Tree nut warnings also cover other potential allergens, such as walnuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts.

“A peanut allergy doesn’t automatically mean your child is allergic to tree nuts, although some people are allergic to both,” Dr. Bjelac states.

Follow your child’s allergist’s recommendations about which nuts they need to avoid.

‘May contain’ and other cross-contact warnings

This is where label reading can get even trickier: A food may not list peanuts as an ingredient, and it may not say that it contains peanuts. But it still may not be a safe choice for your kid.

That’s why some foods carry a warning that they could have come into contact with peanuts during manufacturing.

You may see phrases like:

• “May contain peanuts”
• “Made on shared equipment with peanuts”
• “Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts”

These are called precautionary allergen labels — warnings meant to alert you about the possibility of cross-contact. You typically see them immediately below the ingredients list or next to the “Contains” statement.

“Foods that don’t normally contain peanuts can come into contact with peanut protein during manufacturing or preparation,” Dr. Bjelac explains. “That can make them unsafe for people with peanut allergies.”

Talk with your child’s allergist about how they recommend handling foods with precautionary warnings. They can help you decide if these foods are appropriate.

Teaching your child to read the labels

When your child is young, managing their peanut allergy falls largely on you and the other adults in their life. But your child won’t be little forever.

Starting early can help them gradually take a more active role in managing their allergy.

“Explain their allergy in terms they can understand,” Dr. Bjelac recommends. “Teach them that some foods can make them sick and that they should check with a trusted adult before eating something.”

As they get older and more independent, show them how you check packages, and do it together. You can also help them learn to take care of themselves by teaching them to:

• Find the ingredients list.
• Look for the word “peanut.”
• Find the “Contains” statement.
• Recognize cross-contact warnings.
• Avoid sharing or trading food when they don’t know what’s in it.
• Talk with servers at restaurants about their allergies.
• Ask about ingredients when eating food made at other people’s homes.

The exact amount of responsibility you give them will depend on their age and maturity. But the long-term goal is to give kids the skills and confidence to advocate for themselves.

“There are so many layers of complexity when you have a food allergy,” she acknowledges. “In the end, it’s all about finding ways to keep them safe without them feeling isolated.”

Final thoughts

When your child has a peanut allergy, making safe food choices can feel like detective work. You start studying every package and questioning foods you never gave a second thought to before.

Over time, reading labels may feel less daunting. But even when you know the drill, it’s important to keep your guard up.

“The most important principle of food allergy management is reading every label every time,” Dr. Bjelac emphasizes. “Never assume a product is safe, even if you’ve had it before.”