We noticed you are from the US…

& being directed to our UK site 

Get an extra 10% off all tests on our US site!

Use code USA10 at checkout

Visit US Site
a variety of mixed nuts

Peanut Allergy

The world is nuts about peanuts. Our love and use of the peanut spreads far and wide, with the legume being squeezed to make cooking oil, blended to make butter, and even milled into a fine powder to use as a food thickener. Its use isn’t just limited to the kitchen either, also being used as a common ingredient in cosmetics, paints, and even household plastics.

Whilst the peanut might be useful, for those with a peanut allergy, it’s exactly the nut’s multi-talented nature that makes it such a problem. Allergy sufferers may find it incredibly difficult to avoid symptoms being triggered, and in severe cases some may not even be able to be in the same room as something containing peanut.

But what exactly are the symptoms of peanut allergy, and how are they triggered? If you’re worried you or someone else might suffer from the problem, take a look below at our guide to peanut allergy.

How is a peanut allergy managed?

As with most allergies, the best form of management is to avoid the trigger where possible. Combined with preventative medication, many people can avoid symptoms by simply not eating peanuts.

As peanuts are so prevalent in the food industry, avoiding them can seem difficult. However, in Europe moves have been made to make it easier for allergy sufferers to identify potential trigger foods. It’s now a legal requirement for food producers, restaurants, cafes and takeaways to label for allergens, so make sure to always read labels or ask if you’re unsure about the ingredients of a food.

Save£60!
allergy test

Food Allergy Test

£139

0% interest for 4 months with PayPal Credit. Learn more

PayPal Credit is like a credit card, without the plastic. It's a credit limit that's attached to your PayPal account which you can use for your online purchases. 0% interest for 4 months is available on single transactions of £99 or more. Find out more

  1. Add items to your Basket
  2. Select PayPal as your payment method at checkout
  3. Log into your PayPal account and chose PayPal Credit as your payment method or apply for PayPal Credit
Representative Example

Representative 23.9% APR (variable); Purchase rate 23.9% p.a (variable); Assumed credit limit £1200.

Credit subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. YorkTest acts as a broker and offers finance from a restricted range of finance providers.

PayPal Credit is a trading name of PayPal (Europe) S.á.r.l et Cie, S.C.A, 22-24 Boulevard Royal L-2449, Luxembourg.

+ FREE Delivery on all orders

Tests for 23 foods and 19 environmental allergens

Take a scientific approach by taking a food allergy test. Simply take a quick finger-prick blood sample and return it to our laboratory in the post. You’ll receive your allergen test results within 7 days! No social interaction required.

  • Accurate, scientific analysis
  • Simple and reliable home to lab finger-prick allergy blood test
  • Receive clear test results for IgE reactions to 23 foods and 19 environmental allergens
  • Personalised support from our customer care team
  • Customers must be aged 4 years or over to take one of our allergy tests. This test is not available to customers who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Only available in the UK

Symptoms of a peanut allergy

Some of the most common symptoms of an allergic reaction to peanuts are listed below:

Symptoms icon featuring a woman

Rashes
Hives
Itchy skin

icon featuring the outline of a man with swollen cheeks

Swelling of the face
Itching sensation in the mouth and/or throat
A tight feeling in the throat
Anaphylaxis

man icon

Nausea
Vomiting

Nose icon

Sudden runny nose
Sudden congested nose

symptoms icon

Dizziness

Although varying from person to person, symptoms are often exhibited soon after encountering traces of peanut, and can sometimes be immediate. The variety of symptoms suffered can also depend on the individual and the severity of the allergy, and it’s also common for a person to suffer completely different symptoms on different occasions.

How do I treat peanut allergy?

If you think you or somebody else might be allergic to peanuts, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Although relatively rare, severe reactions can be fatal, and as such it’s always best for symptoms to be tackled immediately.

For a diagnosis of a peanut allergy you would be questioned about your symptoms and history of reaction to peanuts, in order to determine if they may be the potential trigger. A skin prick or blood test may be carried out to help with a diagnosis.

If it turns out that you do have a peanut allergy, you may be given medication such as an antihistamine to take in the event that you come in contact with peanuts. If your GP thinks you may be at risk of suffering from anaphylactic shock, you could also be prescribed an epinephrine pen.

How is peanut allergy managed?

As with most allergies, the best form of management is to avoid the trigger where possible. Combined with preventative medication, many people can avoid symptoms by simply not eating peanuts.

As peanuts are so prevalent in the food industry, avoiding them can seem difficult. However, in Europe moves have been made to make it easier for allergy sufferers to identify potential trigger foods. It’s now a legal requirement for food producers, restaurants, cafes and takeaways to label for allergens, so make sure to always read labels or ask if you’re unsure about the ingredients of a food.

Is peanut intolerance the same as peanut allergy?

There are a number of key differences between peanut allergy and intolerance.

Whilst peanut allergy symptoms occur almost immediately, the symptoms of peanut intolerance can take hours or even days to occur. This is because peanut intolerance symptoms are only triggered by eating the food, thus the effects occur after digestion. Symptoms can be similar to those of allergy, and some of the most common are listed below:

stomach pain icon

Bloating

tired icon

Fatigue

Head with lightening bolt icon

Headaches

man icon

Nausea
Vomiting

Symptoms icon featuring a woman

Itchy skin
Rashes

Again, while peanut allergy has the potential to be fatal, peanut intolerance does not, and anaphylaxis is not a symptom of food intolerance. However, sufferers of intolerance can still experience discomfort.

consulatation

What should I do if I think I have a peanut intolerance?

If you think you might be intolerant to peanuts, you should go and see your doctor first to eliminate the possibility of allergy. Once allergy is ruled out, a simple food intolerance test, such as the yorktest Food&DrinkScan Programme, could help to find out whether any foods are a potential trigger for you.

4 Simple Steps To A Better You

yorktest premium food intolerance test kit
1

You will receive your testing kit in the post

premium food intolerance test finger-prick
2

Take a blood sample with our easy to use finger-prick test kit

yorktest test being posted in a post box
3

Send your sample back in the prepaid envelope provided

Mobile phone featuring an example of the test results from the Premium Food Intolerance Test
4

Receive your test results online within 7 days

Other Allergies

[]