Is nutmeg a nut?

[Gathorne]

This may be a stupid question but I've just made my nut-free Christmas cake for a family who have a child with a nut allergy. However I've now noticed that my mixed spice includes nutmeg. Will this cause a problem?

[JackDanielsU]

I think there are a few varieties of nut allergy from waht i can find out.

The common nuts and nut oils that you must avoid in your cooking in order to prevent potentially life-threatening food allergies include: walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, pistachios, brazil nuts, macadamias, hazelnuts (filberts) and hickory nuts.

Now, it actually gets more complex. The botany of nuts is very interesting. First, you must realize that tree nuts are not related to peanuts, because peanuts are legumes, in the bean family. So peanuts, coconut, water chestnuts, nutmeg and pine nuts are probably OK for your friend.

This person had an allergy to "tree" nuts.

[Xollob]

It looks like nutmeg is safe for people with nut allergy.
Have a look at this Google hit list.

[JackDanielsU]

Though also your mixed spice may have been packaged in a factory that also uses nut powder etc.

A sticky situation

[qapmoc]

Hi, Nutmeg is not really a nut at all it is the large seed of an evergreen tree indigenous to Asia. So nut allergy sufferers should have no problems with it.

Jack d's comment is valid though.

[Dom Tuk]

qapmoc...arent all nuts seeds?. I thought walnut hazelnutetc are all seeds inside a fleshy fruit (the fruit nis obviously dried)