Almost a quarter of food allergies are due to nuts. However recently, cashew nuts often cause serious reactions in children, no doubt because of their ever more frequent use, according to a study.
In the form of salty or hidden snacks in gluten-free flour and vegetable milk, cashew nuts are very trendy. Originally from Brazil and rich in protein, it is less oily and caloric than other nuts.
Its growing popularity is also reflected in this study on allergies, the Swiss National Fund (FNS) said on Tuesday in a press release. The analysis of the European anaphylaxis register revealed a significant increase in serious allergic reactions in young children.
The international research team analyzed all the anaphylaxies linked to the food recorded between 2007 and 2024. It appears that almost 25% of approximately 6000 cases were due to nuts from trees. This includes nuts, almonds and hazelnuts, but not peanuts, which grow underground.
Scientists, including Karin Hartmann, a chief doctor of the allergology service at the Basel University Hospital, examined more than 1000 well-documented cases of nut allergies.
The most surprising result: in children, mostly under the age of five, anaphylaxis was due to cashews in more than 40% of cases. A third of them reacted to quantities less than a teaspoon. More rarely, simple contact with the skin or inhalation was enough to trigger the crisis.
Dethered local varieties
Until now, studies on severe nuts in nuts have focused on local species, such as hazelnuts or nuts. These now occupy the second and third place in children.
The increase in cashews allergies is very likely to be explained by their growing consumption in recent decades. They are often hidden in products such as pesto, or used as a source of vegan protein. “Much more children than before are exposed very early to cashew nuts,” said Karin Hartmann, quoted in the press release.
As with many nut allergies, the trigger is a storage protein present in large quantities. Studies confirm that the children’s immune system reacts particularly violently to this protein.
Anaphylaxies are even more frequent than with an allergy to peanuts. And less quantities compared to peanuts can trigger a crisis. In adults, on the other hand, cashew allergies play a minimal role in cases documented by the European register. The mature immune system is clearly less sensitive.
Precious source of nutrients
Karin Hartmann believes, however, that children should not be prevented from consuming cashew nuts. “From a dietetic point of view, nuts are a precious source of nutrients,” she said.
Less than 1% of the European population develops a nut allergy growing on trees. And only a fraction has serious reactions. The researcher recommends consulting a doctor in case of suspicion of allergy. Specialists determine the type and quantity of nuts that trigger a reaction and provide personalized advice to deal with it.
This article was published automatically. Source: ATS
