There is a high alert mode for people suffering from allergies to peanuts, as some of the biggest and most important walnut crops around the world have been damaged, which could cause providers to "cheat" their way through and send out peanuts instead of walnuts - which could lead to many tragic mishaps across the planet.
Walnut crops in the Kashmir region have been strongly decimated by heavy rains in the last month (right before they were due to be harvested); also, walnut crops in the Galiyat region of Pakistan as well as Argentina have also suffered from bad weather - in the Pakistani case, due to rains; in Argentina, due to frosts from the austral winter. A long-standing drought in California has also threatened walnut crops in the region.
These are some of the main producers of walnut around the world, and, since they have been suffering from bad weather, walnuts will certainly be less available for food producers in every other country that consumes them - which is to say, a whole lot of countries. Because of this, food harvesters will often send out walnuts mixed with peanuts - a nut that 0.6% of Americans are allergic to, as well as about half a million people in the United Kingdom.
Chris Elliott led the British government's inquiry regarding horsemeat being used as a replacement for beef or lamb and he told the United Kingdom newspaper The Independent that his latest concern is in regard of the possible mixing of peanuts in walnuts products, a fact which could be deadly to a number of the population.
At first sight, peanuts can be spot easily in a field of walnuts; however, once the nuts have been processed, it's important to tell. Because of this, the ingredients that should be avoided at this time are those like walnut flour, as they might contain peanuts.
Professor Elliott encourages food providers to test the nuts to screening before processing, to ensure peanuts haven't been placed where walnuts should be. However, he warns consumers with allergies to be extra careful when ingesting walnuts at this time
