Tag: Anacardiaceae family

According to research, a high rate of co-sensitization and cross-reactivity exists between cashews and pistachios, confirming that they are indeed closely related. Both belong to the Anacardiaceae family, also known as the sumac or cashew family. This shared ancestry is a significant factor in explaining why a person with an allergy to one often reacts to the other.

A 2017 study revealed that a staggering 98% of children with a cashew allergy also showed co-sensitization to pistachios. This striking statistic points to the fact that pistachios are the closest nut to a cashew from a botanical and allergic perspective, as they share the same plant family, the Anacardiaceae. This family also includes the less obvious relative, the mango.

Did you know that mangoes belong to the same plant family as poison ivy? The key toxin in mango skin that can cause allergic reactions is urushiol, the same substance found in poison ivy, oak, and sumac.

Over 98% of people with a cashew allergy are also co-sensitized to pistachios, revealing a surprising botanical link between the two. So, are pistachios a cashew? The answer is more complex than a simple yes or no, but reveals a deep connection.

According to dermatologists, the shell of the cashew nut contains a highly caustic, oily liquid called cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), which includes the potent irritant urushiol. This is why the question 'what nut has a toxic shell?' is answered by the common cashew, which is never sold raw and in-shell to consumers.