E322 and peanut /nut allergy

[Julia76]

Hi my son is Anaphylactic to Peanuts. Can anyone advice me on if E322 should be avoided. I am unsure. Some information tells you that it should be avoided and other information says it is safe for peanut allergic people to have? I am a bit confused.

[Hillls]

E322 facts

[Hillls]

peanut allergies

Hi there,

I have attached two links for you, one about the e number e322 and one about peanut allergies, two websites I have found helpful, my dd's are anaphylactic to egg and nuts(all nuts). The first link is brilliant as it gives you so much information on all e-numbers and thier contents.

Good luck

[Julia76]

I will look at this. thank you

[Julia76]

I contacted someone from the food info team today to ask them as i was confused. She said
"Lecithin is mainly found in egg yolks and it is used in food products as
emulsifier (food additive). It has nothing to do with peanuts, and thus
allergy against nuts." So i thought ok, fine he is fine with E322, But this was still on my mind due to other things i had read, so i contacted her again with this info.
she then said:
"There is no mistake or wrong information in the sources you visited, at least as far my knowledge goes to. Lecithin is not connected directly with gluten. But you can not be sure the way it is produced, this is what the website implies. When genetic modofications are present, then apparently you should avoid this additive. Though not all companies state that they used modified starches. I must say that lecithin is widely used in food products, since it is the most common emulsifier used by food industry. There is always a risk...."
Therefore by being told that i am even more confued, or am i being a little stupid here? Should i therefore be avoiding it or not. Or just where it states "modified starches" If i am not to know what source it came from, arent i best to avoid it?

[Hillls]

Not many companies will state nut free on their products due to legal issues, handling can cause contamination in equipment used, human handlers, dust particles etc.. nobody will ever guarantee you, unless you buy the nut free brands, alot of supermarkets do nut free food, its just a point of taking a couple of hours and looking through really.

Yes e322 is normally an egg allergy but can be cross contaminated with nut. Restaurants and play areas are an issue too via contaminated worktops and fingers. You need to be extra careful.

[Julia76]

yes i realise this and i am always reading labels and given same advise to others but it was more a case with the E322. I was confused by it. Fortunately i have found some nut free products but if i am ever unsure i will not buy it. Apparently i should avoid modified starches!
Due to my son going in to Anaphylactic shock a few years back through cross contamination, i am always very thorough and careful anyway and this is why i wanted to be sure of this, as if he is fine with it then i can allow him to have certain foods that otherwise would have to avoid. Thank you for info and advice Hillls. Much appreciated.

[p123]

HI my DD is Anaphylactic to Peanuts,eggs ,walnuts and almonds.We also have been really confused over E numbers and packaging.
E222 is on the egg free diet list from the hospital and on this website www.food-info.net/uk/e/e322.htm it says it can come from egg yoks but does not normally cause a reaction in egg allergic people.Which confuses me!
But it is not on our nut free list as E322 there it is labelled as Lecithin (the same thing but can be made from soya)

i also found again it mentions E322 in egg allergies on www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/db/ViewRecord.php?recid=135
and on this page www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/db/ViewRecord.php?recid=86

Mentions penaut allergies but only when linked to possible allergies to other legumes .

Hope this helps.

Can you help me out:
We have been avoiding all packaging that says may contain traces of nuts or eggs.
but now are realising that things that manafacturing companies say are safe ie Nut and egg free .sometimes still say on their packaging they cannot gaurentee it.

For example : Ingredients wholegrain oats,palm fruit oil,cheese,salt,Rasing agent: sodium bicarbonate.

SO all ok right for a child allergic to nuts and eggs.

This company has told us that all of their products are suitable for vegetarians, are egg free and are made in a nut-free factory.

Still ok right.

Then in the allergy box it says:Allergy advice:containsgluten.Both our recipe andfactory are nut free.We cannot guarantee that our ingredients are nut free.

Ok i can understand that they cannot guarantee all of their suppliers products but does that mean they are SAFE or not?

We have contacted lots of companies and were of the opinion that as long as they confirmed and their packaging and allergy statement on the product matched up to what they said the product would be safe.

But with the above example we are getting concerned.Where does everyone else draw the line with this?

also does anyone have a comprehensive list of foods they avoid for a nut and egg allergic child .we have reson to think the one the hospital gave us is not right!

Sorry its so long!!!!

[tatt]

I would trust these people before most others www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/information/faqs.html

We've never made any attempt to avoid E322.

[Hillls]

Yes new labling has helped alot but with the manufacturers safeguarding themselves by saying "May" contain traces of nuts it does not help. I always phone up the manufactures to ask them to specify exactly how they are made and where etc. Alot of products are made if factories where nuts are handled or in a factory which previously handled nuts (the equipment). I avoid these.

On Cow & gate jars they have new labling saying "no added egg" this basically means the factory handles egg. all very confusing.

Also alot of products change factories allergen information changes, like when the heinz factory burnt down they had to change premesis to a factory which previously handled egg & nuts. I always check labling even on well used products just to be safe.

My dd who is anaphylactic to egg has had adverse reactions to E322 even though it has been deemed 'safe' depends how sensitive the individual is.

P123 E1105 should be avoided by egg allergy sufferers, its found in Infant nutrition & pharmaceutical preparations (its the colour in the dye when you have an operation - its what makes it yellow).

[Julia76]

Hi all, thank you for your useful comments. It is appreciated. I really was quite confused by it.
Hi tatt! you have a peanut allergic child dont you? and you do not make a point in avoiding E322? I had not avoided this E number in the past, as i did not know about it, and he has been fine, so i gather i do not need to avoid it? P123, yes i have also been quite confused with the labelling thing and wondered where people draw the line, thanks for mentoning this. All helps. Thanks again everyone.

[tatt]

no idea if its a problem from other allergy sufferers but one of my children is anaphylactic to peanut and potentially soya milk. She tests positive for tree nuts, soya and a few other things - at least one of which she eats raw! We have never avoided E322. We have had one unexplained reaction to food but E322 wasn't on the label.

[Julia76]

Ok thank you once again Tatt! You been giving me lots of advice on different matters, so thanks. I think in that case i wont worry so much with E322. I will make a point in asking his consultant at next appointment though, just to double check. x