Why are nut allergies often so much more severe than other food allergies? What is in nuts to be so allergy-inducing?

Question

Why is it often not enough for someone who is allergic to nuts to just not eat them like one would with other foods? Why does the entire environment need to be nut-free?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Nuts cause severe allergies because they contain strong proteins that trigger intense reactions in some people. These proteins are stable and don’t break down easily, even with cooking or digestion, so even tiny amounts can cause problems.

For people with nut allergies, it’s not enough just to avoid eating them. Even small traces of nuts or residue on surfaces or in the air can trigger a reaction. That’s why the whole environment needs to be nut-free to avoid accidental exposure.