PurpleCat--
I'd like to learn more about coconut allergy. Do you avoid things like palmitate or palm kernel oil? Is there a list of things you avoid or is it things that say coconut or palm?

Quote:Originally posted by Lori Anne:
[b] Is there a list of things you avoid or is it things that say coconut or palm?
[/b]
This list is about four years old (yikes, can it be that long ago??!!) but these were the ingredients we were avoiding when on complete avoidance from trace amounts of coconut.
[url="http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/Forum22/HTML/000882.html"]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/Forum22/HTML/000882.html[/url]
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Jana
[url="http://www.seattlefoodallergy.org"]www.seattlefoodallergy.org[/url]

Thank you.

Hi Lori Anne!
Wow! I just looked at that list on the other thread - I must admit to not knowing all of those classifications of coconut.
Yes, we do avoid Palm Kernel Oil. For coconut in foods we avoid all types. For coconut in soaps and shampoos we have a different approach.
My DD does not react to Cocoamidoproplyl Betaine - the basic result of my personal research on this form of coconut is that it is a manmade substance to use instead of "real" coconut. It gives the products the lather without the cost. Is there any possible form of real coconut as part of the ingredient - I don't believe so or if there is it is so small or so processed that it does not cause a reaction for my DD. Also, she is not injesting these products. Sunscreens, soaps and lotions with the other forms of coconut (especially the DEA one) cause hives, ezcema that is difficult to clear and a general "bad" feeling (to her) on her skin.
How did I know? When they told me she was allergic to coconut I didn't understand why her shampoo was ok - so I began my research and got a great education from a fabulous "lab rat" at one of the companies I called.
I made a huge mistake one Easter. I bought Gimbals Jellybeans for the table. I thought how great it would be to have them and that they are made in a nut free facility. Well, after eating some my DD put one in her mouth - immediatly spit it out and said that was gross and would eat nothing else. A few minutes later my DD was playing with her new Easter things. I looked up and her face was so red and full of hives I was shocked. I told her to keep the new stuffed bunny off her face and gave her Benedryl. A couple of minutes later I remembered she spit out a jellybean - I found it in the trash and it was WHITE! What was I thinking!!!!! I gave her more Benedryl and called the Doctor. She ended up fine but she had Benedryl through the next day and her face was very slow to recover. I thank god she spit it out so quickly. She did not know it was coconut because she had never eaten coconut before. I felt about 1" tall......

PurpleCat,
Thanks for the response. That's interesting info. Who would have known it (Cocoamidoproplyl Betaine) was a manmade substance?
I'm sorry about the jellybeans. Just when you thought you had a safe one...
Your poor baby! Mistakes happen though--we are human.
I'm glad the new labeling will help your dd. I think Greenlady explained things quite well in the other thread.
Coconut is in more things than I realized.
[This message has been edited by Lori Anne (edited February 01, 2007).]

DD is allergic to peanuts only but has been told to avoid all nuts.
She has eaten coconut (when we find it is from a peanut free facility) without any problems every christmas when I do my baking.