Will be travling to China in April. My traveling buddy is HIGHLY allergic to nuts. I%26#39;ve had to different answers to this question. Is everything cooked in peanut oil? She is taking some food with her, and figured she can buy some there. We will be with a tour group where the meals are provided. I figured the breakfasts would be okay, but the lunch and dinners could be a problem. Please can anyone make some suggestions!!!!!! So far rice and bread is suppose to be okay, can you think of specific dishes that would be nut free.
Allergic to Peanut oil,and all nuts,need suggestions
I would suggest that your friend eats HUGE breakfasts and avoids eating the lunch provided. So make the breakfast meal the largest of the day.
Lots of stir fry dishes will be served during lunch so you could never trust that it hasn%26#39;t been in contact with some kind of nut/not oil.
If necessary take some foods that are OK from the breakfast buffet on your tour each day. So load up on fresh fruits, breads and so on.
She could pack a small lunch box with a small plastic ice block for this purpose.
Have her requirements wriiten in Mandarin for the dinner meal and eat at only hotel establishments and high class restaurants.
Does she have medication for the problem, in case of an emergency? Do you know how to use it and treat her if there is a problem?
Allergic to Peanut oil,and all nuts,need suggestions
Could you be more specific? I actually know a little bit about this topic at least in the US.
Peanuts are legumes which is different than nuts. There is a 20% cross reactivity between peanuts and soy. Is your friend allergic to soy?
Nuts would include cashews, walnuts, hazel nuts ..etc. What is your friend actually allergic to?
Also, what is the allergic reaction? Is it a rash, hives or actually anaphylaxis which is much more serious?
In addition, assuming your friend is allergic to peanuts, usually there isn%26#39;t a problem with peanut oil. Most peanut oils are inexpensive and don%26#39;t have the peanut protein in them. However, peanut oils purchased at health food stores are cold processed and may in fact have the peanut protein in them. I am assuming that in China they aren%26#39;t using the more expensive peanut oils found in health food stores so your friend should be okay, at least from the other oils. However, check with your physician.
There are several other issues, however. Often times, even if you request that your food not have peanuts in it, they use the same pan for everyone. In other words, they cook the dish before yours, spoon it on to someone else%26#39;s plate and then cook yours. So even if you are very careful with what you order, the pan still may have some peanut in it and you could have a problem. You have to be very clear and specific and make sure they wash the pan before cooking your dish. I am not sure this is so easily done in China.
In addition, peanut butter is often used in egg rolls at least in the US. I鈥檓 not sure about China. I would certainly be concerned that there may be other hidden sources of peanut.
As was mentioned, it is very important that your friend keep treatment with them at all times. Personally, if in fact it is anaphylaxis, I would suggest they carry multiple epi-pens with them. Depending on the reaction, it could take 4 epi-pens to treat one serious reaction. This would of course be done on the way to the hospital, not instead of going to the hospital. In addition, there is a late phase reaction where your friend could have symptoms hours after the original reaction.
If you can be more specific, I can try to help. Otherwise, I would suggest you consult with an allergy specialist prior to your trip.
In addition, if you can be more specific, I would post here with the exact foods your friend is allergic to. That way, other people may be able to tell you hidden sources of the item.
I have a dear friend who has allergies so I know a lot about this subject.
Hope that helps!
The above responses are good. Peanut oil is used fairly often, though as noted, that might not be a problem. Lard and canola oils are used a lot, too.
At least in the north, noodle dishes and steamed or boiled dumplings should be no problem, since peanuts are not used, and they are not stir-fried in any kind of oil.
While many dishes do not use peanuts, cross-contamination is a possibility.
Even if you request dishes to be cleaned carefully and something other than peanut oil be used, there is a chance the request will not make it from the server to the kitchen and back to the table.
Presumably, hotel restaurants are more experienced with this. Ideally, you should speak directly to the chef (who in many hotels will speak English.)
I think one can manage, but for a serious allergy, one must be prepared for the worst.
Peanut butter is not really used in Chinese cooking, though sesame paste is.
Thank you for answering my post. My friend is anaphylaxis to all nuts. She went to her allergy specialist last week and he wouldn%26#39;t even test her for peanut oil, he said it was too dangerous. She is taking a large supply of epi-pens, and I am aware how to use it in case she can%26#39;t. I know it%26#39;s not a solution to the reaction, but a temperary measure till she reachs a hospital. She will be extremely careful with everything she eats, and I%26#39;m glad someone mentioned about using the same pan. She will be taking packages of dry soup mixes, tuna, and chicken packs, and some foods like that, but I would hate that three forths of her suitcase is just food.Also would a reasturant be offended if she asked for hot water for her soup mixex? We will be in Beijing, Xian,Guilin, Canton, Hong Kong, Hangzhou,and Shanghai. Are there regional dishes in these areas that would be okay for her to eat? I also heard there is KFC and Mcdonalds in China, would they use peanut oil? Any information I can get is deeply appreciated.
I am sure the allergist didn%26#39;t want to test her for peanut, not peanut oil.
She could check with McDonald%26#39;s, KFC, ect., here, before you go regarding the use of peanuts in their products. She also could double check the oils although I doubt they would be using cold pressed health food peant oil in their restaurants in China, but who knows?
Obviously, your friend should avoid any buffets as it is unclear what other food may have been cooked in the same pan, even if the specific dish doesn%26#39;t have peanut in it.
It might be safer to eat at restaurants in hotels with English speaking personnel.
The other thing would be for someone to write in Chinese about her allergy and the severity of her reaction so that she can show it to the staff at the restaurant. This would help as far as the language barrier. It would also help in the event she only wants to order rice at a restaurant as it would explain the problem.
Are there any other allergies she has? Is she allergic to soy? Are there any nut allergies as well?
Again, both of you need to be aware of the risks of the delayed phase reaction which can be worst than the original reaction. Your friend should also bring antihistamines (benadryl) and prednisone with her on the trip. In addition, she should carry the medicine with her on the plane, to make sure it doesn%26#39;t get lost. Ask her to get a note from her allergist so there isn%26#39;t a problem at the airport.
Lastly, since this is true anaphylaxis, your friend should give herself an injection from the epi-pen here, before you leave, if she has never had to do it before. This way, she won%26#39;t be afraid to do it if she really needs to use it. In addition, you might even want to give her an injection ,as well, as a trial, because you might really need to do it on the trip, as well.
Again, your friend should double check all of this with her allergist as I am only giving you my opinion and am not a physician.
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