A group of nuts such as almond, cashew, walnut and hazelnut that are declared allergens under the Food Standards Code and a common cause of severe allergic…
A group of nuts such as almond, cashew, walnut and hazelnut that are declared allergens under the Food Standards Code and a common cause of severe allergic reactions. Tree nuts are a category of declared allergens under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and include nuts such as almond, cashew, walnut, hazelnut, pecan, pistachio, macadamia and Brazil nut. They are distinct from peanut, which is a legume and is declared separately. Tree nut allergy is an immune reaction that is a common cause of serious food-allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis in sensitive people. Although tree nuts are a category, the specific tree nut present should be named, for example almond or cashew, so that consumers with an allergy to a particular tree nut can identify the risk accurately. Some people are allergic to only one or a few tree nuts, while others avoid all of them, so precise naming supports safer choices. As with other declared allergens, even small amounts can trigger a reaction. For an Australian food business, managing tree nuts means identifying which specific tree nuts are present across ingredients and sub-ingredients, including nut pastes, meals, oils, and garnishes, and declaring them by name. Tree nuts appear in many products, from bakery goods and desserts to sauces such as pesto and satay, so checking recipes and supplier specifications carefully is important. On packaged food, tree nuts are declared like other allergens under Plain English Allergen Labelling, with the specific nut named, and for unpackaged food, allergen information must be available to customers. Cross-contact control is also critical, because nut residues can transfer via shared equipment and surfaces, so both accurate, specific declaration and physical separation are part of managing tree nut risk well. A dessert kitchen finishes a cake with a garnish containing chopped hazelnut but lists only almond, because the recipe card was outdated. A customer allergic specifically to hazelnut reads the almond declaration, believes it is safe for them, and reacts. Because tree nuts should be named by the specific nut present, the failure to declare hazelnut precisely left the customer without accurate information.
Frequently asked questions
Which nuts count as tree nuts?
Tree nuts include almond, cashew, walnut, hazelnut, pecan, pistachio, macadamia and Brazil nut, among others. They are declared allergens under the Food Standards Code. Peanut is not a tree nut; it is a legume and is declared separately.
Should the specific tree nut be named?
Yes. Although tree nuts are a declared allergen category, the specific tree nut present should be named, such as almond, cashew or walnut, so that consumers with an allergy to a particular tree nut can identify the risk accurately.
Are tree nuts and peanuts the same allergen?
No. Peanut is a legume, not a tree nut, and is declared as a separate allergen. Some people are allergic to peanut, some to tree nuts, and some to both, so the two are declared and managed separately.
Can tree nuts cause anaphylaxis?
Yes. Tree nut allergy is a common cause of serious food-allergic reactions and can trigger anaphylaxis in sensitive people, even from small amounts. This is why tree nuts must be declared and cross-contact controlled during food preparation.
How must tree nuts be declared on packaged food?
Tree nuts must be declared when present, and on packaged food they are declared like other allergens under Plain English Allergen Labelling, with the specific nut named, in bold in the ingredient list and in the Contains summary statement.
