it's dead now at the time it's being used, but it might depend on when it was milled up for the project,and what the finish products will be. go to a woodworkers forum on the web-those guys banter lots of minutia back and forth. it's a good question.

You're probably fine (assuming no cutting on that counter!) but ask his parents.

I grew up with a sib with a severe nut allergy who had no issues with walnut furniture or paneling. But touching a walnut would close up his eyes and lungs (that was the alarming part). Every pot luck dinner or recital ended with dropping mom and brother off at the ER on the way home. Hehe!

I've read that tung oil can set off some allergies as well if you're really paranoid :) .

How about a lovely mahogany?

My daughter suffers from multiple allergies and her allergist assured me that people are allergic to the proteins only and not oils. She is allegic to soy, but consumes products with soy oil just not soy flour or protein and we have a soy base insulation that I was told is safe for her. Her Dr. also said peanut oil, if pure would be safe for her nut alleries. The problem is some( ie Chinese) peanut oils are not filtered well and then it is dangerous. I do not think wood counters will have protein that will transfer to your food{{gwi:807}}, but maybe make food on a plate, after washing, your hands for your relative. Warm soap and water is all that is needed to dissolve nut proteins.

This post was edited by roarah on Mon, Jan 28, 13 at 18:51

I also read tung oil (Waterlox contains a bit of tung oil) may be an issue for those with allergies. I'm not sure though how accurate it is.

Here is some science behind it... Some are allegic to walnut tree pollen, ie hayfever symptoms, but the nut is a different protein than the wood used in furniture and does not seem to cross.

"Allergens/Function:

The Walnut tree nut contains a lipid transfer protein allergen (LTP). (Asero 2001 ref.4245 9) (Asero 2000 ref.3711 9) Whether a similar LTP allergen is present in Walnut tree pollen has not been determined yet. Cross-reactivity due to LTP allergens appears to be relevant only in foods, which are ingested, and not in pollens, which are inhaled.

Adverse Reactions:

IGE AND IMMUNE:
Pollen from the Walnut tree is commonly found in airborne pollen surveys and will contribute to asthma, hayfever, conjunctivitis, and anaphylaxis. (Sicherer 2000 ref.4559 4) (Shafiee 1976 ref.45720) (Lewis 1975 ref.3257 8)

There is a high cross-reactivity suggested between members of the genus Juglans. (Yman 1982 ref.1241 0)

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE:

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis has been observed. (Estlander 2001 ref.4409 7)

NON IMMUNE:
Unknown or Nil"

Information supplied from an abridged section of:
Allergy Advisor - Zing Solutions
http://allergyadvisor.com/index.html
� zingsolutions.com 1998

Thanks for the education! DH found a lovely slab of claro walnut that we are thinking to use for a kitchen table.

I looked into this a few months back when I fell in love with walnut flooring. I have a nut allergy, and one of the specific nuts they tested was walnut, of course. I could not find any sources cautioning about contact with wood. It is the nut proteins, and while in theory pure oils might be safe for some people, in reality there's no way to know if any given oil is safe and they should be avoided.

I would not be worried about the wood, though it might put everyone at ease to officially check with the allergist. I did read about problems with the sawdust during processing, but that was not related to nut allergy, the dust is just irritating.

I am actually more concerned about soapstone. I was very interested until I learned many products used to oil it contain nut oils. Who would have guessed?

Use a tablecloth and have the epipen handy.