Revely

Allergen

Other names for tree nuts on a food label

“Tree nuts” means different lists in different countries. Here’s what each one covers, and the nut-sounding names that aren’t nuts at all.

Sources checked September 26, 2026

Names that mean tree nuts

Look-alikes that aren’t tree nuts

What the law requires

United StatesA major food allergen, and the label has to name the nut.1 The FDA lists 12: almond, black walnut, Brazil nut, California walnut, cashew, filbert or hazelnut, heartnut, macadamia, pecan, pine nut, pistachio and walnut. Other nuts are named in the ingredient list but not in the “Contains” line.1
European UnionOne of the 14 allergens, covering eight nuts: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios and macadamias.2
JapanWalnut (くるみ) and cashew (カシューナッツ) are mandatory. Almond, macadamia and pistachio are on the recommended list.3

On labels in other languages

SpanishChineseJapanese
frutos de cáscara, nuez, almendra, avellana, anacardo坚果、堅果、核桃、腰果くるみ、カシューナッツ

Coconut and chestnut

Neither is on the FDA’s current list of 12 or the EU’s list of eight.12 Revely flags both as tree nuts anyway, which is more cautious than either list.

Sources

  1. US Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Edition 5), 2025.
  2. European Union. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, Annex II, 2011.
  3. Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan. アレルギー表示について (Allergen labeling), April 2026, 2026 (in Japanese).

Every source above was checked against the published text on September 26, 2026.