Peanut allergy or an allergic reaction to eating peanuts is one of the most common food related allergies in the United States. The surprising fact about this often misunderstood condition is that the cases continue to raise in number each year. Most people who suffer with peanut allergies are children, but their are still some adults who suffer as well.

The research has grown as to the causes and conditions associated with peanut allergies, but the evidence does seem to suggest that many people will out grow the affliction before reaching adulthood.

When your child or family members suffers from a peanut allergy, finding food that are peanut free can often be a daunting task. Many people find that by carefully examining most food labels that they can easily detect those items that contain even a trace amount of peanuts or peanut products in them.

The difficulty come in when you are shopping for pre-packaged food items that often times may contain hidden ingredients or have ingredients that are not listed as peanuts, but in fact do contain them.

We have comprised a list of many of the most common pre-packaged food items that can contain hidden peanuts or peanut products.

Baked Goods or Mixes: Breads, Cakes, or other ready made goods with unknown ingredients. Some examples include, Carrot cake, Pumpkin cake and fruit or nut rolls.

Artificial Nuts: These are peanuts that have been disguised as or re-flavored to taste like other nuts such as Walnuts or even Pecans.

Breakfast Items: Muesli, Cereals or Breakfast bars often include peanuts or are made on manufacturing lines that produce peanut products.

Main Dish Fare: Asian recipes can often have peanuts in them as well as many vegetarian dishes, soups and even chilis.

Salad Dressings or Sauces: Pestos, Gravy's, Salad Dressing and even often times Barbecue sauce can contain peanuts or trace amounts of the nuts.

Sweets: Candies, Brownies and ice-cream just to name a few.

It is vitally important that you ask at restaurants and bakeries if the products they sell contain peanuts, and when in doubt the best solution is to just skip the food all together. This will create a situation that is safe and worry free for you and your child.

Some common signs of peanut allergies are:

1. Reaction of the skin such as hives, welts, and redness

2. Itching in or around the mouth.

3. Stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting.

4. Tightness in the chest

5. Shortness of breath.

6. Runny nose.

Knowing the signs of a reaction to peanuts can potentially save the persons life, this is why we advocate education for everyone who plays a close role in the lives of children