Peanut Allergy Question

I can't answer that for you either, but being how severe peanut allergies are, I'd say better safe then sorry. That isn't a chance I'd be willing to take. I'd avoid the sunflower oil too.

Hi J., I have a 4 year old who is allergic to all tree nuts. I do not give him any type of oil that comes from nuts or that is processed in a plant that produces those nuts or oils that are nut based. His tree nut allergy is worse than the peanut allergy and the nutritionist at my son's allergist's office suggested staying away from them if at all possible. My son has had these oils and has not had a problem. I think it depends on how severe the allergy is. I live in northern bergen county and my allergist is Dr. Maryann Michelis she is the head of asthma and allergy at Hackensack University Medical Center. I hope this helps you a little. Maybe ask the pediatrician if the allergist is not helping you.

Hi. I don't know about cross contamination, but our school is a peanut free facility, but they do allow sunflower seed butter.

I personally can't answer your question having no experience whatsoever regarding nut allergies but I can recommend a fabulous allergist. I am not sure where you are located but assume that you are in NY/NJ area. His name is Donald Perlman. He has offices in West Orange and Jersey City, NJ. I would highly recommend calling him even if you aren't close as I know he works with pediatric allergies very often and that infants with allergies need to be handled in particular ways.

Best of luck!

Have you consulted a person who can do kinesiology? That is muscle testing to find out which substances (animal, vegetable, mineral) weaken the system of the person being tested, and which strengthen it?
That could solve your question energetically, instead of expensive tests which in this case sound like they don't exist.
Let me know how this goes.
Any forward thinking chiropractor or healer ought to be able to refer you to a reputable kinesiologist (they are often health care practitioners who have been trained in kinesiology, which by the way, you can learn to do on yourself or your children.)
Best wishes,
K.
Port Washington, NY

Hi,

My X-husband is extremely allergic to peanuts and other nuts yet eating sunflower seeds did not bother him. His symptoms to peanuts were his throat would become itchy then close up. He had to get benadryll right away. I realize this is a child not an adult. i just thought you might like to know there is some hope for your child as far as sunflower seeds and oil are concerned. I've always gone by the rule that if you arent sure these things should be introduced at an age they can tell you how they are feeling. Note too, always look at the back of the container, I think there is a requirement that they have to list if the product may contain traces of nuts because so many people have the same allergy.

Good luck.

I have an allergy child that is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. My vote is no.

We found out that my son had a peanut allergy at 1 and he is about to turn 5. His allergist has never said anything about avoiding sunflower oil and I have never looked for it in his food ingredients. So far we have not had any incidents with any foods he has had and I'm sure that over a 4 year period sunflower oil has been in something he has eaten.

Our allergist has said that oils are fine. They are typically processed at such a high temperature that the proteins (that cause the allergy) have been killed in the processing.

However, she also has said we just really need to watch her and makes these decisions based upon her reaction. If she is fine with a product than she recommends we continue to give her a product until we know it may be causing issues.

J.,
I am a nurse and although I am not an expert, I would say that your child should be tested for a sunflower/seed allergy. Didn't your allergist want to test her for this as well as peanuts? It is too risky to take a chance by giving her the sunflower oil and then have her have a reaction. Do you keep an epi pen handy in case of anaphalactic shock.
That's about all I have.
M.

Yes - our son who is severely allergic to many things, including peanuts, has sunflower oil quite often. He also enjoys Sunbutter (a peanut butter substitute made with sunflower seeds instead of peanuts.) We've yet to find a safe sunflower seed packet - but the oil has never been a problem.

Also - know that there is a Food and Latex Allergy Awareness Group (FLAAG) based in New Haven/Fairfield County that meets regularly as a resource. The founders are very knowledgeable and a good, reliable resource for information. FLAAG.org

I am personnally allergic to peanuts. They cause me to have migraines. I can eat sunflower seeds and any other seeds or nuts, as long as they are not processed in peanut oil.
Try your local co-op, you might find sunflower seeds there that are not processed in peanut oil, also use any oil except peanut oil.

Here is a little known fact, most laundry detergents contain crushed peanut shells as a natural filler and then they are protected from telling you because of "Trade Secret Laws". I have found an all natural line, free of these fillers, that I believe contributed to healing my sons bleeding eczema in less than 1 1/2 months. I will gladly tell you where to purchase it.
E.
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Not sure where you live but my pediatrician's daughter is allergic to peanuts as well and he is very well read in all things peanut allergy-related. My children go to Willows Pediatrics on the Post Rd in Westport. Also, they are very good with peanut allergies at Fairfield County Allergy and Asthma in Norwalk.

Dear J.,
YES! By all means stay away from sunflower oil it is a type of oil from sunflowers seeds. I wouldn't take a chance its not worth it... Best of luck to you and you daughter.
Regards,
F.

I would stay very far away from anything w/ sunflower oil. It seems like she has more allergies so she might be more sensitive to products containing nuts etc.

Hi J., people with peanut allergens have safely eaten highly refined peanut oil and sunflower oil. It is the protein in the peanut that causes the allergic reaction. When the peanut or sunflower oil is highly refined-the protein content is eliminated. It is extremely rare for someone with a peanut allergy to have a allergic reaction to sunflower oil as well. I am a holistic health counselor and strongly advise you to speak with a naturopathic doctor.

Hi J.,
My daughter has a tree nut allergy and my favorite resource is: http://www.foodallergy.org/.
They have tons of useful information.
I hope you'll check them out.

I'm suggesting that you not only avoid sunflower oil but also all foods that contain it.
I'm also suggesting that when you finally see the new allergist ask if your daughter can be tested for products that contain sunflower oil.

Our 4 year old daughter has had a very bad peanut allergy her entire life. The pediatrician recommended to keep her away from all nuts and nut oils.

However, we carry allergy medicine with us at all times and keep it in the play school etc. to be completely safe. The pediatrician gives us as many bottles as we need to make it easy for us to carry.

For example, one in my handbag, one in her packed bag, one in the school medicine cabinet, one with the babysitter, and extras at home so it is very easy for us to be prepared. I also include spoons or syringes allow with the medicine to ensure that we can react super quickly to any reaction.

She has had reactions to other nuts when she accidentally ate cookies or cakes at parties and we were not aware there were nut ingredients in them.

She has never had a reaction to sunflower oil. I do not have a medical allergist to prove it but I've got more than 2 years experience as a mom dealing with a very serious peanut allergy. (she has an allergic reaction even if someone touches a peanut, peanut butter etc and then touches her)

I am hoping your child's peanut allergy is less dramatic than our daughter's.

Our daughter also had wheat and milk allergies that she grew out of at about 2 - 2.5 years old.

When I stopped breastfeeding her, I put her on a soy-based formula milk which she still drinks. But she can now eat all kinds of dairy products and can drink milk.

She also has a strong allergy to shellfish - especially prawns and shrimp.

So while your little one is young, I would recommend that you also stay away from shellfish and raw eggs.

Our daughter had a very dramatic reaction to raw eggs when I let her taste cake batter we were making.

I am actually quite calm about it all now because I am used to instructing everyone around her about the allergies. Also if you have medicine with you, there is little need for worry.

We use "Chlomine" brand but I'm based in Singapore so I'm not sure if you can get that where you live.

Our daughter is also very good at asking if anything has nuts or shellfish in it before she eats.

Many children grow out of their food allergies. However, in my family my mother is severely allergic to peanuts and several other foods. So if you have a genetic history of allergy on either side of your families you will always need to be on the lookout for these things.

Hope this helps!
D. Torres Patel

My son (now 24) used to eat sunflower seeds and sunflower oil with no problems. The good news is that he outgrew many of his allergies (milk, eggs, soy, wheat) and is now only allergic to fish and peanuts. So hang in there, J., it'll get better.

the only thing i can tell you is my girlfriend is allergic to peanuts as well, and she has had a problem when eating things such as potatoe chips that are cooked in sunflower oil..so i know she stays away from all sunflower oils and everything

D.