Coconut is trending for both internal and external use. Is it a nut, and how does it affect babies with allergies?
If you are preparing your foods with coconut oil, then you already understand the health benefit of this trending product. It is good for your hair and skin, but it can also reduce your risk of heart disease. Coconut oil on your baby can moisturize and comfort, even combat cradle cap.
Some people are allergic to tree nuts. While coconut is actually a fruit, there are rare cases of coconut allergy. Reactions can result in hives on the skin, gastrointestinal issues, or even anaphylaxis symptoms. Babies who have a family history of coconut allergy may exhibit symptoms early on or those symptoms may reveal themselves later in life. Also, those who are allergic to one or more tree nuts may not be allergic to coconut at all. This is something to ask a pediatrician or allergist.
Coconut Oil and the Food Allergens List
In the United States, the FDA classifies coconut as a tree nut for labeling purposes. This includes coconut oil as there may be residual coconut protein in the oil itself. The European Union, however, does not include coconut in its list of common and potent causes of food allergies and intolerances.
Some organic baby formulas from the United States have coconut oil as one of their ingredients. Even if it is a good quality, parents do not always want it, especially if their little one has a nut allergy that can extend to coconut.
Do Any Organic European Baby Formulas Contain Coconut Oil?
If you are concerned about coconut products, namely coconut oil, in your baby's formula, you will need to look beyond the allergen declaration on the packaging of your preferred organic formula.
Hipp Organic commonly uses organically produced vegetable oils such as palm oil, rapeseed oil, and sunflower oil in its baby formulas. It will also use LCP oils from fish.
Holle and Lebenswert also uses the same vegetable oils, but do not contain fish oils. According to current packaging, there are no coconut products in their ingredients.
Loulouka is the only product we carry at this time that contains coconut oil. The company promotes coconut because it helps the body absorb calcium and is not linked to reduced bone density as palm oil is.
Even if your baby is not allergic to coconut oil or similar products, you should not add additional oils to your baby's formula. The formula itself is balanced with the right amount of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that your little one needs to absorb all of the nutrients that help them grow.
Reposted from August 2018
