Tree nut allergy is one of the most common causes of severe food allergy reactions in the UK. Understanding exactly which nuts are classified as tree nuts — and which are not — is practically important for managing the allergy and for making sense of food labelling. The distinction between tree nuts and other nuts (particularly peanuts) is especially important, as they are biologically different and allergies to them do not necessarily overlap.
What Qualifies as a Tree Nut Under UK Allergen Law
Under the UK's Food Information Regulations and Natasha's Law, the tree nut category includes: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecan nuts, Brazil nuts, pistachio nuts, macadamia nuts, and Queensland nuts. These must be declared as allergens when present in food.
The Complete List of Tree Nuts (Including Less Common Varieties)
Commonly encountered: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, Brazil nuts, macadamias, pine nuts.
Less commonly encountered but still tree nuts: chestnuts, beechnuts, hickory nuts, coconut (technically a tree nut under allergen classification, though most people with tree nut allergy tolerate coconut), acorns (rarely consumed), lychee nuts (the seed), ginkgo nuts.
Not tree nuts: peanuts (a legume, botanically more related to peas and beans); water chestnuts (an aquatic vegetable); nutmeg (a seed); butternut squash (a vegetable); tiger nuts (a tuber).
Peanut vs Tree Nut Allergy: The Clinical Difference
Peanut and tree nut allergies are separate conditions, though they frequently co-occur. Approximately 25–40% of people with peanut allergy are also allergic to one or more tree nuts. However, having a peanut allergy does not automatically mean you have a tree nut allergy, and vice versa. Individual allergen testing by an allergist is the appropriate way to determine the specific profile of nut sensitivities.
Cross-Reactivity Within Tree Nuts
Cross-reactivity also exists within the tree nut group — cashews and pistachios have high cross-reactivity; walnuts and pecans are cross-reactive. Someone allergic to one tree nut may or may not react to others, depending on their specific sensitivity profile. Blanket tree nut avoidance is the conservative approach; individual allergen assessment allows more targeted management.
Safe Food at Vanda's Kitchen EC4
Vanda's Kitchen near St Paul's Cathedral provides one of the safest food environments in the City of London for people managing food allergies and intolerances. Our kitchen is 100% nut-free — no peanuts or tree nuts ever enter our facility. We are certified halal by the Halal Friendly List. We hold a 5-star food hygiene rating. Every item we produce carries full ingredient and allergen labelling covering all 14 mandatory UK allergens, in compliance with Natasha's Law. Our Selfridges Food Hall presence confirms the quality standard we maintain alongside our safety credentials.
For corporate catering where allergen management is a genuine requirement — not a convenience — Vanda's Kitchen provides the kitchen standards and documentation that responsible procurement demands. Read our allergy-friendly catering guide and our nut-free catering guide for more. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options.
Safe Food From Vanda Kitchen EC4
Vanda Kitchen near St Paul Cathedral EC4 is 100 percent nut-free, certified halal (Halal Friendly List), 5-star hygiene rated, with full Natasha Law allergen labelling on every item. Selfridges Food Hall quality. One caterer, all allergen requirements covered, full documentation available on request. For London offices where allergen management is a genuine requirement, we provide the kitchen standards and credentials that responsible procurement demands. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options. Read our allergy-friendly catering guide and our nut-free catering guide for more detail on our approach.
Why Vanda Kitchen Is the Right Choice
For City of London professionals and offices managing food allergies, Vanda Kitchen provides the most comprehensive single-source allergen-safe solution available. Our 100 percent nut-free kitchen, independently certified halal status, 5-star food hygiene rating, and Selfridges Food Hall quality represent a credentials profile that is genuinely rare in London corporate catering. Fresh Filipino-inspired food prepared daily. Individual Freedom Tray portions with full allergen labelling. Flexible standing orders with direct WhatsApp management. Same-day response to all enquiries. WhatsApp us to discuss your requirements or send an enquiry.
About Vanda Kitchen
Vanda Kitchen is an independent food business based near St Paul Cathedral in EC4, with products stocked in Selfridges Food Hall. Our kitchen is 100 percent nut-free — no peanuts or tree nuts ever enter our facility. We are certified halal by the Halal Friendly List. We hold a 5-star food hygiene rating. Every item carries full ingredient and allergen labelling covering all 14 mandatory UK allergens. This combination of credentials makes us uniquely placed to serve London businesses with complex dietary requirements — from daily office lunch to event catering.
Our food is freshly prepared daily from our EC4 kitchen, rooted in Filipino culinary tradition: lean proteins, fresh vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and the bold natural flavours that make our food genuinely enjoyable rather than merely functional. Our Selfridges Food Hall placement confirms the quality standard we maintain. For City of London professionals who want a safe, delicious, and nutritionally excellent daily lunch, and for offices that want the same for their teams, Vanda Kitchen provides the answer. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options to get started.