Photo: Getty Q. I’ve read differing views on whether it would be safe for a nut-allergic person to eat baked goods with coconut or coconut oil. What’s your view on coconut?
Dr. Sicherer: Despite its name, coconut is not actually a nut, but a fruit. Regardless, the Food and Drug Administration considers it a tree nut, which is why it’s included in U.S. labeling laws.
It is difficult to assess the risk of coconut allergy among those with tree nut allergies because allergic individuals may become wary of coconut and avoid it. Still, coconut allergy appears uncommon, even among those with tree nut allergies.
Coconut Not Necessarily Linked to Tree Nut
In a national registry of 5,149 people with peanut or tree nut allergies, only four patients reported having an allergy to coconut. A more recent study of 40 children with positive tests or known allergy to peanuts or tree nuts showed no increased risks for having positive tests or allergy to coconut.
Your allergist would consider your personal allergy history in deciding whether to add coconut to your diet or to perform any testing. However, be aware that tests are often positive to coconut in people who could actually tolerate it. So a physician-supervised feeding test may be necessary for a conclusive answer.
When it comes to coconut oil, there is almost no medical literature on allergic reactions to it. This may reflect the likelihood that the processed forms of coconut oil contain little or no protein, although this has not been studied.
Still, for those with verified coconut allergy, avoidance of coconut oil should be considered because it may have residual protein.
Finally, it’s important to note that people with peanut or tree nut allergies who choose to eat coconut must be diligent to avoid cross-contact with tree nuts or peanut being avoided.
Dr. Scott Sicherer is a practicing allergist, clinical researcher and professor of pediatrics. He is Director of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute and Chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. He’s also the author of Food Allergies: A Complete Guide for Eating When Your Life Depends On It.
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