Peanuts Peanuts Americans eats about 11 pounds of peanuts and peanut products per person each year. But peanuts are also a leading cause of food allergies and of near-fatal allergic reactions. About two in every 100 children are allergic to the nuts.
Reactions can include swelling, hives and anaphylactic shock, which can be deadly.
The reaction is caused by an immune response in the body to a protein found in peanuts. Children who are allergic to peanuts don't often grow out of the allergy, so it's a lifelong struggle. Not only must an allergic person avoid obvious sources of peanuts, like peanut candy, peanut butter and peanut butter cookies, but there are hidden sources of peanut proteins, like peanut oils used in cooking. Doctors report an increase in peanut allergies, possibly because more children are exposed to peanut products at an early age, before their immune systems can deal with the peanut proteins. If someone in your family has a history of peanut allergies, or if your child has asthma, doctors recommend that you refrain from giving your child peanut products until he or she is at least three years old.