Nut allergy & chestnuts

[AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog]

Daft question - do chestnuts count as a nut?

I'm looking at these.

DS has a hazelnut allergy (don't know about other tree nuts as he's not been tested yet) and I don't want to offer chestnuts if there's a chance they could set off a reaction.

I asked this question last year, as for some reason I thought they classed as a fruit, but apparently they are a nut. I would avoid.

my son has eaten them, as he has grown out of all but one of his tree nuts, he also eats walnuts, but cant bring himself to eat any other tree nuts.
obviously its difficult when you can remember reacting to some of them!

Have to say that he only eats these on his immunologists advice, and should eat them more often than he does, however its difficult to get tree nuts in shells all year round.

Ah, thanks. I was confused because I read that water chestnuts aren't nuts and I'm not really sure what they are.

Yes, a friend with a nut allergy said they count.

I'm pretty sure that water chestnuts aren't nuts - I thought they were a root growth from some water plant. But the tree nuts we roast at Christmas and put in stuffing are the nuts of the sweet chestnut tree and count as tree nuts.

Sounds like I should just steer clear of anything called 'chestnuts' unless it's got the word 'water' in front of it. Thanks.

oops, gave DD chestnut casserole...maybe that's why she didn't eat it? I'm pretty sure I read somewhere chestnuts were ok??

I have never heard of anyone with a chestnut allergy. I personally am allergic to all sorts of nuts (Hazel, Brazil, Pecan, Cashew) but can eat chestnuts. But then I had never heard of anyone with a pistachio allergy either and it seems they do exist...