Peanuts & Tree Nuts

[hathor]

Oh, I love the "second hand gluten" term -- thanks to the person who recently suggested it.

Anyway, I'm still somewhat new to coping with my intolerances and thus still getting reactions. I am trying to figure out if I have other intolerances I don't know about yet or if the problem is second hand gluten.

I recently reacted ... twice (maybe I'm a little slow ) ... following ingestion of brazil nuts. I never had more than one or two at the time before. I convinced myself it was a SHG restaurant meal that caused the first reaction, but the second reaction was even stronger. Then I read the label and saw that the nuts were made on equipment shared with wheat, milk, and soy. And these were the last nuts in the bag and so had all sorts of dust on them. Oops. Maybe ... or maybe I can't handle brazil nuts.

Last night I had peanuts on a dessert at a restaurant. Another immediate reaction... only I haven't noticed any problem with peanut butter or peanuts in the shell (the last being the only thing I can find to eat at baseball games). I suppose it could have been something else in the dessert, though, since I don't remember if I vetted the hot fudge sauce.

Is there a particular problem with gluten contamination of tree nuts or peanuts, at least those that aren't processed into butters? I've tried researching this, but what I'm getting is hits related to people who are allergic to tree nuts or peanuts.

I figured folks out there would have relevant experience to share. Perhaps someone has even researched how nut butters are prepared ... is there less potential for SHG in them?

[ravenwoodglass]

The first nuts with the 'made in...' caution undoubtedly got you. I avoid all products with this statement. As to the nuts on the sundae, it could have been CC with the nuts, it could have also been gluten in the sauce or even Cc from the restaurant itself.

I have learned the hard way to avoid restautants like the plague. I have been poisoned every time I have gone to one since diagnosis. Even one time that the meal was most likely fine but I discovered bread crumbs in my water glass, unfortuately after I drank from it. The place keeps it's water pitchers and glasses at the waitress station, right next to the bread warmer.

You may never know for sure what got you, but you now know a bit better what to watch out for.

[hathor]

I hope it wasn't the restaurant. We made an extra long trip to go to the one restaurant in the state that, not only is vegetarian, but makes it a point to say that they cater to those with food allergies. The menu itself says what is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, etc. and whether there are options for eliminating things you want to avoid. It was such a pleasant experience and the food was really good.

I think I got greedy with dessert. I specially ordered the frozen rice milk and told them to leave off the whipped cream. But now I see from their menu online that the dessert has a gluten-free "option." Option? I can't figure out what would have gluten in it ... Hot fudge? I was thinking it might have been dairy in that or problems with the peanuts. In addition to gluten residue on the latter, I was reading in a book yesterday that those with a problem with yeast should avoid peanuts because they are covered with the stuff. Although I don't know if I trust what this book says ... it also makes claims like only red-skinned potatoes don't have gluten in them Fortunately, I just wanted it for the recipes.

Anyway, what would have gluten in a hot fudge sundae? It felt like I had had dairy (and it certainly didn't taste like ice cream I had). Oh well, I will figure all this out at some point. Nothing like some negative reinforcement to get through to me.

[ravenwoodglass]

I would actually suspect the frozen rice milk more than the chocolate sauce. I would continue to trust this restaurant but make it loud and clear that I needed gluten free, as in after everything I say I would say, now that is gluten-free right? Maybe on your next visit you could ask them what the difference is or even call and ask.

[hathor]

Gluten in frozen rice milk? Sigh ... just when I thought I was figuring things out. Or do you think it might have casein or soy? I don't know that I've ever had frozen rice milk before -- perhaps there is something else in there my system doesn't like

Next time I may go with the sorbet -- although I'll have to find out why it isn't shown as vegan. Dairy in sorbet?

Or I'll skip the dessert and have an after-dinner drink.

The waitress was very obliging, going back & asking questions. I actually had had in mind a different dessert but she told me it wasn't safe. So I picked this other one and I'm not sure I asked all the questions I should.