When I first set out to write this post, I had a few allergen surprises in mind. I thought I would share five or ten ways I’ve learned allergens hide. As I began to write, I realized it was impossible to limit the list to just five or ten. Every bit of research I did revealed new allergen surprises. Ultimately, I decided to go one of my favorite sources, other food allergy parents. I posted a question about places where parents were surprised to encounter food allergies at 11 PM on a weeknight and within minutes the responses were pouring in. The post ended up with over 175 comments! What did I learn? Well to start, food allergy parents are like me and basically never sleep. Milk hides in everything. Allergens extend far beyond food. There are an insane amount of surprises to be aware of. The food allergy parent community is a vast wealth of knowledge.
Below I’ve organized all the responses by the allergen.
Please note: I’ve refrained from brand specifics as manufacturers change ingredients all the time.
peanut/tree nut
food
- guacamole (pistachios)
- deli meat
- canned yams (nut oil)
- canned collard greens (nut oil)
- chili
non-food
- fertilizer
- pressed wood “door stoppers”
- hair product
- ant bait
- potting soil
- beanbags
- wood varnish
- facial scrub
- pin cushions
milk
food
- canned tuna (casein)
- fast food french fries
- seasoning packets
- non-dairy coffee creamer (caseinate)
- pre-cut fruit (to maintain freshness)
- potato chips (lactose)
- wine
- deli meat
- frozen veggies
- sausage
- hot dogs
- bread
- anti-nausea medication
- spice pastes
- chewing gum
non-food
- hand soap
- bath bombs
- dust free chalk
- bath color drops
- fabric
- yarn (specifically labeled as milk yarn)
- shampoo or conditioner
- condoms
- inhalers
- birth control pills
- medical gloves
- balloons
egg
food
- sour candy
- wine
- icing
- condensed soup
- dog food
non-food
- tempera paint
- face paint
soy
food
- canned tuna
- bread and buns
- pre-cut fruit (to maintain freshness)
- apples and orange rinds (to give shine)
non-food
- dye and ink
- wax
- furniture foam
- canning lid liner
- colored pencils
- air freshener
- candle
- soap
- lotion
- babywearing wrap
- disposable utensils
other
coconut
- facial tissues
- water filters
- cleaning supplies
corn
- plasticware
- toilet paper
- sanitary supplies
- iv tubing
- shredded cheese
fish
- milk (fish oil)
- wine
latex
- tennis ball
- mattress
- bucket
legume
- pet food
oat
- fast food ground beef tacos
- sensory bins
- medical gloves
sesame
- candy corn
- lip gloss
sunflower
- chips
- broth
- crackers
tomato
- lotion
- sunscreen
wheat
- shredded cheese
- playdough
- toothpaste
If you think of something to add, let me know! I’ll update this as needed.