We Are All a Little Nuts

Think back to high school logic problems: if all nuts are seeds, some seeds are nuts, and kola nuts are seeds, are kola nuts nuts?

Botanically speaking – no.

Seed and nut are often used interchangeably and many popular and well-known nuts like pine nuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamia nuts, pecans, and pistachios are not actually nuts. By botanical definitions a nut is a dry single-celled fruit with a very hard shell that does not open to release its seed. This is called indehiscent, where they don't naturally split open. The definition of nut is strict and includes acorns, hazelnuts, and chestnuts – things you would need a nutcracker to help you open.

Alternatively, seed is a very broad definition. Seeds are the reproductive unit of a plant, capable of developing into a new plant if conditions are suitable.

But, in the culinary and regulatory world the definition of nut has come to encompass any edible kernel surrounded by a hard-shell, including seeds and even some fruits. Notably, peanuts which are botanically a legume because they grow underground in pods are also included in the definition of nut in the culinary and regulatory space. The definition of nut became so broad due to food allergies and the allergenic potential of the above mentioned foods.

Despite having differences in their botanical definitions all the above mentioned items share allergenic proteins. These allergenic proteins are what caused the body to exhibit an allergic response. An allergic response is the body's immune system incorrectly identifying harmless food proteins as a threat. Due to this the body releases antibodies, most notably Immunoglobulin E (IgE), and chemicals like histamine leading to a physical reaction.

For food allergies, the tree nut definition includes almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts. Recognize that botanically, most of these are not nuts, but because they share allergenic proteins capable of producing an allergic reaction, they are defined as such. Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe. The term “nut allergy” also includes peanuts, but they are not included in the “tree nut allergy” definition due to different allergenic proteins.

So what about kola nut? Well, kola nut is a seed! It is contained inside the star shaped fruit of the kola tree and breaks open upon maturity. Kola nut is not classified as a major food allergen. In the most recent finalized guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), kola nut was not included in the allergen list because a review of scientific and epidemiological data showed no evidence of IgE activation or widespread reports of allergic response.

That being said, any individual may have sensitivity to any new food or beverage consumed. So, always consume with caution and reach out to a medical professional if you have any questions or concerns.