does dark chocolate have peanut oil in it?

I just recently found out I may have a peanut and pine nut allergy. I also just had a piece of dark chocolate and my throat got itchy, my face feels hot and itchy. I took a benadryl a few minutes ago. Is there usually something in dark chocolate that would cause this?

Please help as soon as possible. thanks

I hope you are feeling better now.

If you are allergic to peanuts and the dark chocolate you ate is not made by a nut-free, peanut-free chocolate manufacturer, it could be that there were trace amounts of peanut in the chocolate.

Do you happen to know the brand of chocolate it was?

It was from a little shop in a city my daughter goes to school. I called them and there is no answer due to the weather.

thanks

I think you should switch to purely nut-free, peanut-free chocolate. (PLEASE!)

My son has a peanut allergy and we have eaten chocolate from the following places without problems:

http://www.vermontnutfree.com
http://www.amandasown.com
http://www.sethellischocolatier.com/
http://www.deanssweets.com/

Also Enjoy Life Foods makes chocolate chips which we are able to find at local supermarkets.

Take care,
Jennifer B
www.foodallergybuzz.com
www.peanutfreebaseball.com

Oh thanks for the help. This is all so new to me. I am going to make an appointment for an allergist asap, the weather permitted them from opening today and I suspect tomorrow too.

No problem! There's definitely a learning curve with peanut allergy and other food allergies. I'd say it was almost a year before I felt really confident that I knew which foods were safe, which brands are "safe" brands, etc. Baked goods, candies and ice cream are among the most dangerous, in my opinion, because of the chance of cross-contamination. So many baked goods, candies and ice creams contain nuts or peanuts.

By the way, some people with peanut allergy are able to eat foods made in a facility which uses peanuts--trace amounts don't appear to bother them. My son cannot. Even trace amounts touching his skin cause him to have a reaction. You may be similarly sensitive.

You have the right idea--see the allergist ASAP. In the meantime, my personal recommendation would be that you avoid all tree nuts and peanuts, and foods that may contain traces too. This will mean you'll have to call or email some food manufacturers to find out if peanuts or nuts are present in the manufacturing facility. Better safe than sorry though, I think!

I am sure your allergist will be able to give you some good advice and guidance.

Take care, and don't hesitate to ask more questions here. There are many veteran PA folks eager to help!

Jennifer B

Thanks so much for your help. How old is your son? I feel bad for kids when they have this, for me, well, it's not a big deal, but these poor kids and parents, it's not fair for them or you.

I will get to an allergist once the snow clears around here. I will keep you posted. Have a great night.

Enough--I ditto what Jen has said above. Wanted to post to tell you to hang in there. A new diagnosis is hard and it's difficult navigating this world of allergies.

My son is 7 and peanut allergic as well.

I promise that it will definitely get easier in time. This is a great website that offers a lot of information and support.

Any questions--feel free to ask! :)

Ruth

Thanks for your answer. I feel for you and your son. I hope you are both doing well.

This site is so wonderful, I am so happy to have found it. I have an appointment with an allergist in March, bummer to have to wait so long, makes me think many people out there have lots of allergies. In the meantime, I will just watch what I eat and read alot. Yeah, it'll be fine, I am lucky it waited so long.

Thanks again. Joan