| Common or usual name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Almond | Prunus dulcis |
| Black walnut | Juglans nigra |
| Brazil nut | Bertholletia excelsa |
| California walnut | Juglans californica, Juglans hindsii |
| Cashew | Anacardium occidentale |
| Filbert / hazelnut | Corylus spp. |
| Heartnut / Japanese walnut | Juglans ailantifolia |
| Macadamia nut / bush nut | Macadamia spp. |
| Pecan | Carya illinoinensis |
| Pine nut / piñon nut | Pinus spp. |
| Pistachio | Pistacia vera |
| Walnut (English, Persian) | Juglans regia |
Removed from the FDA list in January 2025: beech nut, butternut, chestnut, chinquapin, coconut, ginkgo, hickory nut, lychee nut, palm nut, pili nut, shea nut and kola nut. Removed nuts must still appear by name in the ingredient list, but not in the "Contains" statement. Butternut is a walnut relative and hickory a pecan relative, so people allergic to walnut or pecan should treat them with caution.
These nuts must be clearly labeled on packaged food products if they are present as ingredients.
Changes to Note
- Coconut is botanically classified as a drupe (fruit) rather than a true nut, but botany was not the reason for the change: the FDA removed it from the tree nut allergen category for labeling purposes based on evidence about how often it causes allergic reactions. This change was part of the FDA's updated guidance issued on January 6, 2025, which reduced the list of tree nuts requiring allergen labeling from 23 to 12.
- This is a labeling change, not a safety finding. Coconut, chestnut, shea and the other removed nuts can still cause allergic reactions. They must still be listed by name in the ingredient list, but they no longer appear in the "Contains" statement — if you are allergic to one, read the full ingredient list.
- Chestnut is no longer classified as a major food allergen, but it must still be declared by its common or usual name in the ingredient list on food labels. However, it should not be included in the "Contains" statement reserved for major food allergens.
- Shea nuts are sometimes questioned as an allergen, but the FDA does not classify shea nuts as a major allergen.