Since there seemed to be confusion on whether people with tree nut allergies should avoid shea butter products I contacted FAAN and this is their response:

Hi Lisa,

The shea nut is a tree nut that has not been widely used in foods in the past, but shea butter and shea oil are being used increasingly in lotions, bath products, shampoos, and cosmetics. Although no reactions to shea nut have been reported, many doctors advise patients with tree nut allergy to use caution and avoid products that contain ingredients derived from the shea nut.

Even though my girls are allergic to peanuts, we avoid ALL Nuts so I am going to definitely avoid shea products just to be safe!

On May 26, 2005

samirosenjacken, thank heaven! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] So, Linda Jo and I weren't insane after all. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/tongue.gif[/img]

Here's the dilemma now, since this did become a recent discussion because Becky A. bought a Coffee Crisp bar, made in Canada, but she purchased it in the U.S. and it did list sheanut oil as an ingredient.

I contacted Nestle Canada and found out that in Canada, it is simply labeled as a vegetable oil and unfortunately, I didn't follow-up with CFIA to see what they allow to be classified as vegetable oils (peanut oil has to be spelled out specifically).

So, for those of us who have been sending Coffee Crisp bars into America for years, on OUR labeling, it does not say sheanut oil and that means that MANY PA/TNA children have been eating sheanut oil unbeknownst to them.

I had also not followed-up with Nestle Canada to see what other products of theirs have sheanut oil in them but labeled as vegetable oil.

Now I have a mission again.

But this will be extremely upsetting to those members that do have TNA children who have eaten Coffee Crisp bars.

I remember when this was originally discussed, because the thread was started by Linda Jo and we sat up 'til the wee hours of the morning researching this, and a lot of us decided, at that time, to avoid sheanut products (in cosmetics, etc.).

FAAN's answer at that time was not as clear. They simply had said that there had been no reported reactions to sheanuts.

Then, there was further research done by other members which would suggest that it wasn't a tree nut, but more like a tree fruit, like a coconut.

Now, my guy is PA only and has been consuming Coffee Crisp bars since time began (even though he does not eat any other products with tree nuts in them and I wasn't aware until the last couple of months that he had been eating sheanut oil all of this time). However, as I said, my guy is PA only.

I hope Becky A. and the other concerned members see this post.

I am so thankful for you posting it. I have avoided, where labeled (mostly in cosmetics) sheanut products since Linda Jo and I did the research because I thought, why chance it (and again, my guy is not PA, but we do avoid tree nuts and even tree nuts in cosmetics, toiletries, whatever).

I could just hug you! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

And again, hope Becky A. sees this somehow.

Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

On Jun 17, 2005

Simply re-raising. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

On Jul 19, 2005

Simply re-raising. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

On Aug 31, 2005

Re raising.....

On Feb 3, 2007

I am concerned about cross-contamination of peanuts, tree-nuts and certainly shea nut and all derivatives of any of these ingredients - whether these ingredients or their derivatives are in food or in cosmetics, body care products, etc. as well as over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.

For instance, Chap Stik lip balm/lip moisturing product line contains an "all natural" Chap Stik and that item contains shea butter. If that item is manufactured on the same line as the other Chap Stik products that do not contain Shea butter, their is the clear possibility of cross-contamination.

This happens frequently with food items which are manufactured/packaged on shared equipment that also manufactures and/or packages products containing peanuts and/or tree-nuts (including shea nuts) and/or their derivatives. I can't tell you how many boxes of cookies (for instance) I have opened, eaten one or two cookies, had a reaction and threw the box away. In fact, when I buy a specific cookie (I eat only Nabisco Social Teas) and the box I open is okay, I go back to the sane store I purchased that box of cookies from and looked for boxes of the cookies that have the same date.time and code as the box I purchased which did not give me a problem.

All this is to say that the issue of cross-contamination can be just as searious as eating or using an item that actually is labeled as containing peanuts, tree-nuts, shea nuts