Hello!

I have been asked to make a cake for a 15 year old who has a fatal peanut allergy.

Has anyone out there run into a similar situation? Should I buy all fresh ingredients at a specialty store to ensure 'peanut free' or would going ahead with a cake mix be sufficient? I have looked at the ingredients and there is no mention of peanuts however you never know, right? I must admit I am a little nervous on this one....

I made a cake for a friend who's neice has a fatal peanut allergy. I used a box mix and it was fine. Just make sure that whatever you use ingredient and utensil wise haven't been in contact with anything peanut. Some ingredients say ~manufactured in a plant where peanuts are housed or used or present~ don't even use these. These people are highly allergic and even the smell or dust from the peanuts can be deadly.

Debbie

I found this article. I thought it might be helpful. Since he has a fatal peanut allergy, I don't know if I'd take a chance on cake mixes. You just never know.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/nut_peanut_allergy_diet_p2.html


Parents who suspect or know that their child has a nut or peanut allergy must read every food label on every item and educate their children to do the same. And even though most manufacturers are honest in labeling every ingredient in their product, some names, like arachis, mask the real ingredient - peanuts.

The problem with peanuts, unlike tree nuts, is that they're used in many, many foods, posing a threat to unwitting consumers. The Food and Drug Administration requires food manufacturers to list every ingredient in a product, with several exceptions - flavors, colors, or spices, and those in insignificant amounts. In addition, ingredient lists still don't cover possible cross contamination when the same equipment that's used to process peanuts for another product is also used to make foods that don't have peanuts as ingredients.

That's why the responsibility falls on parents to make sure their child doesn't eat and isn't exposed to foods with nuts or peanuts.

When reading labels, avoid these ingredients:

• *food additive 322 (also often listed as lecithins)
  *arachis (an alternative term for peanut)
  *hydrolyzed vegetable protein (which may be found in some cereals)
  *arachis oil (peanut oil)
  *emulsified or satay (which could mean that the food was thickened with peanuts)
  *natural and artificial flavoring (which could contain tree nuts and are used in many foods, including barbecue sauce, cereals, crackers, and ice cream)

Foods to avoid include:

• *peanut butter
  *mixed nuts
  *crushed nuts in sauces
  *African, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Mexican, and Vietnamese dishes (which often contain peanuts or are contaminated with peanuts during meal preparation)
  *pesto (an Italian sauce made with nuts)
  *marzipan (a paste made from ground almonds and sugar)
  *mandelonas (peanuts soaked in almond flavoring)
  *health food bars
  *artificial nuts (which could be peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut, such as pecan or walnut)
  *all cakes and pastries with unknown ingredients, particularly carrot cake, pumpkin cake or pie, and fruit and nut rolls
  *bouillon and Worcestershire sauce
  *praline and nougat
  *muesli and fruited breakfast cereals
  *vegetarian dishes
  *prepared salads and salad dressings
  gravy

If you're unsure about whether a food or candy is nut and peanut free, log on to the manufacturer's website or call the toll-free number listed on the package. Most companies have customer service representatives that can answer nut and peanut allergy questions accurately.

I would make a scratch cake and give a list of the brand names and the ingrediants to the mother for approval. The word "fatal" would make me extra cautious. I would also let the mother know whne you deliver it that you went out of your way to make sure the cooking/decorating area was nut free.

I know quite a few people with peanut allergies and they need to be careful however as you said the word 'fatal' really changes things. I was planning on cleaning everything with a light bleach wash, etc. I will be emailing the father (since he requested the cake) with some questions and hopefully this will help as well.

I know quite a few people with peanut allergies and they need to be careful however as you said the word 'fatal' really changes things. I was planning on cleaning everything with a light bleach wash, etc. I will be emailing the father (since he requested the cake) with some questions and hopefully this will help as well.

Thanks for all the help!