Blog on Food Allergy Informer

Diagnosed at Nine Months: My Food Allergy Story — and a Letter to New Parents

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t remember the day my allergy was found, because I was nine months old. But I’ve heard the story enough times that it feels like my own memory: my mom, doing the most ordinary thing a parent can do, handed her baby a little peanut butter cracker. Within minutes, something was clearly wrong. That cracker is how we learned I had a peanut allergy — before I could walk, before I could say the word “peanut,” it was already part of who I was.

Flying With a Peanut Allergy: The Best and Worst Airlines (2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Flying with a peanut allergy used to keep me on the ground for years. Sealed in a cabin with recirculated air, no hospital in reach, and strangers tearing open snack bags — it felt impossible. It isn’t. With the right airline, the right preparation, and a short script for the flight attendant, air travel with a peanut allergy becomes routine. Here’s everything I’ve learned, including how the airlines actually stack up in 2026.

Is Coconut a Tree Nut? (And the 2025 FDA Change You Should Know)

Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It’s one of the most-searched allergy questions, and the answer recently changed in an important way. Coconut is not a tree nut — botanically it never was, and as of 2025 the U.S. FDA no longer classifies it as one for allergen labeling. Here’s the full picture.

Learn to Say No: Self-Advocacy With a Peanut Allergy

Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The most important peanut allergy survival skill isn’t reading labels or carrying epinephrine — though both matter enormously. It’s learning to say no. No to the dish you can’t verify. No to the well-meaning friend who insists “a little won’t hurt.” No to the pressure to be easygoing when your life is on the line. Self-advocacy felt impossible to me for years. Here’s how I learned to do it, everywhere it counts.

Is Nutmeg a Tree Nut? What People With Nut Allergies Should Know

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Holiday baking season sends a lot of allergy families searching this exact question. Good news: nutmeg is not a tree nut. The “nut” in its name is misleading.

Nutmeg is a seed, not a nut

Nutmeg is the dried seed of the Myristica fragrans tree, ground into the warm spice you know from pumpkin pie and eggnog. It is not botanically related to peanuts (a legume) or to tree nuts like almonds, walnuts, and cashews.

Peanut Allergy Symptoms in Adults: What to Watch For

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most people think of peanut allergy as something that starts in childhood — and usually it does. But peanut allergy can appear or persist in adulthood, and the symptoms aren’t always dramatic at first. Knowing what to look for, and acting fast when it matters, is what keeps a reaction from becoming an emergency. Here’s a clear breakdown of peanut allergy symptoms in adults and what each one means.

Tree Nut Allergy Food List: What to Avoid and Where It Hides

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If you or your child has a tree nut allergy, the hardest part is often knowing exactly what counts — and where tree nuts sneak in. Here’s a clear, printable-style list.

Tree Nut Allergy vs Peanut Allergy: What's the Difference?

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It’s one of the most common questions people ask after a peanut diagnosis: “So I can’t eat almonds and cashews either?” The answer is “it depends” — because peanuts and tree nuts are biologically very different, even though they’re often lumped together. Here’s what actually separates them and why the overlap matters.

Peanut Oil and Peanut Allergy: When Is It Safe?

Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

“They cook in peanut oil” is one of the most confusing phrases a peanut-allergic person hears at a restaurant. Is it a hard no, or is it fine? The honest answer is: it depends entirely on which kind of peanut oil — and the difference is big enough to matter. Here’s what the science says.

Is Airborne Peanut Allergy a Myth? What the Research Says

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Few allergy fears are as common — or as misunderstood — as the idea that simply smelling peanuts or sitting near them can cause anaphylaxis. It’s a real worry, especially on planes and in classrooms. So what does the actual research say? The short version: true airborne anaphylaxis is far rarer than most people believe.

How I Learned to Eat Out Without Fear

Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

For years, restaurants were the most stressful part of having a peanut allergy. The menu looked like a minefield and I never knew whether the kitchen really understood. Over time I built a system that makes eating out feel safe — not perfectly risk-free, but manageable.

Peanut Allergy Treatment in 2026: OIT, Xolair, and What's Next

Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

For most of my life, the only “treatment” for a peanut allergy was strict avoidance and an epinephrine auto-injector. That’s changing. There’s now a small but growing toolkit of therapies that aim to reduce the danger of an accidental exposure — and 2026 brought some big shifts. Here’s a plain-English guide to where peanut allergy treatment stands today.

Do Your Research, Then Ask: Getting Restaurant Accommodations With a Peanut Allergy

Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The single biggest thing I’ve learned about eating out safely: the best meals start before I walk in the door. A little research plus a direct conversation with the right person turns a nerve-wracking gamble into a genuinely good night. Here’s the system — and two stories that show it works.

Bakeries, Sub Shops, and Donuts: Don't Take Chances With Bread

Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Some places earn extra caution, and for me bakeries, sandwich shops, and donut chains are near the top of the list. The risk isn’t always obvious — it often hides in the bread and the shared space it’s made and handled in.

Reading Food Labels Like a Pro

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Grocery shopping with a peanut allergy is a skill, and like any skill it gets easier with practice. Here’s how I read labels without spending an hour in every aisle.