Tree nut allergy when eating abroad

Tree nuts in 14 languages

The word to look for on menus, allergen charts and labels.

Language	Word	Romanisation
Japanese	ナッツ類 / くるみ / カシューナッツ	nattsu-rui / kurumi (walnut) / kashū nattsu (cashew)
Chinese	坚果 / 核桃 / 腰果	jiānguǒ / hétao (walnut) / yāoguǒ (cashew)
Korean	견과류 / 호두 / 잣	gyeongwaryu / hodu (walnut) / jat (pine nut)
Thai	ถั่วที่มีเปลือกแข็ง / มะม่วงหิมพานต์	thua thi mi plueak khaeng / mamuang himmaphan (cashew)
Vietnamese	các loại hạt / hạt điều (cashew) / óc chó (walnut)
Hindi	मेवे / काजू / बादाम	meve / kājū (cashew) / bādām (almond)
Arabic	مكسرات / لوز / كاجو	mukassarāt / lawz (almond) / kājū (cashew)
Turkish	sert kabuklu meyveler / kuruyemiş
Greek	ξηροί καρποί / καρύδια	xiroí karpoí / karýdia (walnuts)
Italian	frutta a guscio
French	fruits à coque
Spanish	frutos de cáscara / frutos secos
Portuguese	frutos de casca rija (Portugal) / castanhas, nozes (Brazil)
German	Schalenfrüchte / Nüsse

What counts as tree nuts

Tree nuts are the hard-shelled nuts and seeds that grow on trees: almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts (filberts), pecans, pistachios, Brazil nuts and macadamias are on every Western legal list. Peanuts are not tree nuts; they're legumes and have their own page, peanuts.

Beyond that core, each country draws the line differently, which matters when you rely on a label or a restaurant's legal duty:

The US list also covers black walnut, California walnut and heartnut (Japanese walnut). In its January 2025 guidance the FDA dropped coconut, chestnut, beech nut, butternut, ginkgo, hickory, kola, lychee nut, palm nut, pili nut and shea nut. Health Canada says coconut and nutmeg aren't treated as tree nuts for labelling but that some tree-nut-allergic people have reacted to them.

Tree nuts often hide inside other names: marzipan (almond paste), frangipane, praline, gianduja (chocolate with hazelnut), nougat and its cousins turrón and torrone, amaretti, macarons (almond flour), nut "milks" and dairy-free cheeses made from cashews, and liqueurs such as amaretto and Frangelico. Mortadella can be studded with pistachios.

Where tree nuts hide on menus

Tree nut allergy has become a big issue in Japan: in the government's latest national survey, tree nuts, led by walnut and then cashew, caused more immediate food allergy reactions than milk or wheat. That's why walnut became mandatory on labels and cashew followed in 2026.

Cross-contact is common because kitchens tend to store and grind nuts together. Gelato shops use one scoop across pistachio, hazelnut and almond tubs. Indian kitchens grind cashew paste in shared grinders. Bakeries handle almond flour everywhere. A dish without nuts can still pick them up from a garnish tray.

Labelling rules around the world

EU and UK. "Nuts" are one of the 14 allergens, and the European Commission treats the list as exhaustive: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios and macadamia (Queensland) nuts. Labels must name the specific nut, as in "flavouring (almond)". Pine nuts are not covered, so restaurants have no legal duty to mention them. Restaurants must provide information on the eight nuts that are covered.

US. Tree nuts are a major food allergen, and the specific nut must be named. The FDA's current list has 12 entries, including pine nut. Coconut came off in January 2025, so it no longer triggers a "Contains: tree nuts" statement, though it still appears in the ingredients. The federal law covers packaged food, not restaurant meals made to order.

Australia and New Zealand. Since the plain English labelling rules (in force from 25 February 2021, mandatory from 25 February 2024), labels must name each nut individually: almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pine nut, pistachio or walnut. "Tree nuts" alone is no longer enough. Coconut is excluded. Unlabelled food, including restaurant meals, must have this information displayed or available on request.

Canada. Nine nuts are priority allergens, including pine nuts, and must be declared on prepackaged food. There's no national rule for restaurants.

Japan. Walnut (くるみ kurumi) has been mandatory since 2023, with the transition ending 31 March 2025. Cashew (カシューナッツ) became mandatory on 1 April 2026, but products made before 31 March 2028 may still use old labels, so a cashew-containing snack may not say so yet. Almond, macadamia and pistachio are recommended, not required. Restaurants aren't legally required to label allergens.

How to order with a tree nut allergy

1. Name the nuts. "Nuts" means different things in different languages; in Spain, frutos secos is a broad term that often takes in peanuts. List the nuts you react to, using the words above.
2. Ask about pastes, pesto and sauces. Nut pastes thicken curries, romesco, muhammara and many modern "creamy" vegan dishes.
3. Ask about desserts before you order them. Pastries, praline, ice cream and sweets are where tree nuts concentrate.
4. Ask about oil and garnish. Unrefined nut oils and nut sprinkles are easy to overlook.
5. Don't rely on the law covering your nut. In Europe, pine nuts aren't covered; in Japan, hazelnut, pecan and Brazil nut aren't.
6. Carry prescribed adrenaline and follow your doctor's plan.

"May contain nuts" warnings are voluntary in most countries, so a label without one isn't a guarantee. Japan bans "may contain" wording and uses a factory statement instead.

Dishes in our glossary that contain tree nuts

• UsuallyBaklavaPistachios or walnuts in the filling; almonds, hazelnuts or cashews in some styles.
• UsuallyKormaCashew or almond paste thickens most kormas; ground almond in UK-style korma.
• UsuallyPesto alla genovesePine nuts (pinoli). Many jarred and catering pestos use cashews or walnuts.
• OftenBiryaniFried cashews or almonds as garnish, or nut paste in Mughlai styles.
• OftenButter ChickenCashew paste is a common thickener; some kitchens use almonds.
• OftenKibbehPine nuts in the filling; some cooks use walnuts. Ask for pine nuts by name.
• OftenSauerbratenLebkuchen and some Printen used in the gravy contain almonds or hazelnuts.
• SometimesAranciniPistachio fillings are common in Sicily.
• SometimesBaba ghanoushSome Syrian versions add walnuts; pine nuts appear as a garnish.
• SometimesDolmadesPine nuts in some rice fillings, more often in Turkish and Armenian versions.
• SometimesHummusToasted pine nuts on top, especially hummus with meat. Ask if severe.
• SometimesKung pao chickenSome restaurants outside China use cashews instead of, or as well as, peanuts.
• SometimesMantıSinop mantısı is topped with crushed walnuts.
• SometimesMasala DosaCashews in some potato fillings.
• SometimesMassaman CurrySome restaurants use cashews alongside or instead of peanuts.
• SometimesPalak PaneerSome restaurants blend in cashew paste for a creamier sauce.
• SometimesTaramasalataSome recipes thicken it with ground almonds.
• SometimesTiramisuSome versions use amaretto liqueur or crushed amaretti (almond biscuits).
• Sometimesİmam bayıldıA few recipes add pine nuts to the filling.

Questions

Is coconut a tree nut?

Not for labelling purposes in the EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or Japan, and since January 2025 not in the US either, when the FDA removed it from its tree nut list. Coconut still has to appear in ingredient lists by name. Health Canada notes that some tree nut allergic people have reacted to coconut and nutmeg, so ask your allergist before eating them.

Are pine nuts tree nuts?

It depends on the country. Pine nuts are on the US, Canadian and Australian/New Zealand lists, but not on the EU or UK list of 14 allergens, so a European label or restaurant isn't legally required to flag them. Ask directly about pine nuts, especially with pesto, Middle Eastern rice dishes and Korean food.

If I'm allergic to one tree nut, should I avoid them all?

That's a question for your allergist. Some tree nuts carry similar proteins: ASCIA gives cashew and pistachio as an example of cross-reactivity. In a restaurant, nuts are often stored, chopped and ground together, so cross-contact between different nuts is common.

Are nut oils a risk?

Cold-pressed or unrefined nut oils, such as walnut and hazelnut oil in French dressings, can contain nut protein. ASCIA says little research has been done on the safety of nut oils and advises avoiding them.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Follow the allergy action plan your doctor gave you, and always confirm ingredients with the restaurant.

Sources

1. European Commission Notice C(2017) 4864 on allergen information under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011
2. UK Food Standards Agency: Allergen guidance for food businesses
3. US FDA: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens (Edition 5), Table 1
4. US FDA: Frequently asked questions on food allergen labeling guidance (coconut)
5. Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Allergen labelling
6. FSANZ: Proposal P1044 Plain English Allergen Labelling, approval report
7. Health Canada: Tree nuts, priority food allergens
8. Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan: Food allergy labelling (Japanese)
9. Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan: Food allergy labelling handbook, April 2026 (Japanese)
10. ASCIA: Peanut, tree nut and seed allergy FAQ

Last checked 1 November 2026. Spotted something wrong? Email support@inventum.com.au.