What Pine Nuts Are Used For Allergy Skin Testing

Pino nuts are the edible seeds collected from pine trees cultivated in Europe, the USA and Asia. They are used every bit ingredients in some mainstream pre-packed food products such as pesto sauce, and also in products sold in health food shops.

If you are allergic to pino nuts, or call up you may be allergic, this article will provide yous with valuable data.

Any agin symptoms to pino nuts should exist reported to your GP. If an allergy is suspected, information technology is likely that you will exist referred to an allergy clinic.

What is a food allergy?

Food allergy occurs when a person's immune arrangement reacts inappropriately to a food. The starting time stage of the process is called sensitisation – when the allowed system'due south "memory" registers the food as a threat. Antibodies to that nutrient are produced, and at a subsequent encounter, these antibodies may connect with the food's proteins and trigger the release of certain substances in the body, such every bit histamine. This results in an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of a nutrient allergy

The symptoms of a nutrient allergy can come on rapidly. These may include nettle rash (otherwise known every bit hives or urticaria) anywhere on the body, or a tingling or itchy feeling in the mouth.

More than serious symptoms of a nutrient allergy may include:

Swelling in the throat and/or rima oris
Difficulty animate
Wheeze or asthma
Severe intestinal pain and recurrent vomiting

The term for this more serious form of allergy is anaphylaxis. In extreme cases there could exist a dramatic fall in claret pressure level (anaphylactic shock). The person may go weak and floppy and may have a sense of something terrible happening. This may lead to plummet and unconsciousness. On rare occasions, death from a food allergy can occur.

Click here for to read our factsheet about anaphylaxis and its treatment. This will help you lot empathise what to do in an emergency.

If you are allergic to pine nuts, must yous avert other nuts?

Pino nuts are in a unlike botanical category to tree nuts (such as walnuts, Brazils and cashews) and researchers point out that the overwhelming majority of people with pine nut allergy tin tolerate these other nuts, and vice versa. So if yous are allergic to pine nuts, information technology is highly unlikely that yous need to avoid other nuts but discuss this with your doctor if yous have any concerns.

Where are pino nuts used?

Every bit stated above, pino nuts are ofttimes institute in pesto sauce. You could also find them in sandwiches, cakes, staff of life, salads, pizzas, biscuits, confectionery and water ice cream.

Pine nuts are sold in wellness nutrient stores too as in supermarkets. In countries where they are harvested commercially – such as Spain, Italy and Morocco – their use is particularly mutual. They are also widely used in the United states.

Pine basics may turn up where y'all don't expect to find them. We accept seen them as ingredients in pre-packed products such equally a lentil and mint lamb leg articulation; in a butternut squash rolled pork loin; in vegan chocolate tortes; and in a Christmas pudding. Call up that pino basics may exist found in packets of mixed seeds.

If yous are allergic to pine nuts, we strongly advise you to read food labels scrupulously and question catering staff very direct. Be explicit when informing people what you must avert – telling staff you are allergic to pine basics and pine kernels. Remember that the phrase "nut free" may not necessarily signify the absence of pine nuts because they are in a dissimilar botanical category to tree basics.

Nether the food information regulations, any of fourteen allergens must be highlighted in the ingredient list when they appear in pre-packed food. However, pino basics are non among those 14 and you will not meet them highlighted.

The use of pine nut oil is rare. Information technology is gilded coloured and can be used for making salad dressings and drizzling on to stale or grilled meats.

Other names

The pine nut is known by a variety of other names including pine kernels, pinon, Indian nut, pignoli and pignolia.

'Pine mouth' syndrome

People take reported experiencing a metallic or biting taste within 48 hours of eating pine nuts. This tin can last for upwardly to two weeks. Doctors are uncertain what causes pine oral cavity syndrome, but do not believe information technology is harmful to health. It is not idea to be an allergic reaction.

Reviewer

This article has been reviewed past Dr Gary Stiefel, Consultant in Paediatric Allergy, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. He has no conflicts of interest to report.

All the information we produce is evidence based or follows practiced opinion and is checked by our Clinical and research reviewers. If you lot wish to know the sources we used in producing whatsoever of our information products, please let us know, and we will gladly supply details.

Publication date: Nov 2018