Peanut-free cooking is usually straightforward. Peanut-free snacking is not -- it is the wrapped thing in a lunchbox, a coat pocket or a desk drawer that has to be checked every time, and those are the packets with the smallest print.

So this aisle leans sweet and packaged: Kellogg's Bug Bites cinnamon graham crackers, Special K pastry crisps, Pop-Tarts in frosted s'mores and unfrosted brown sugar cinnamon, MadeGood granola minis, Drizzilicious mini rice cakes, Lorna Doone shortbread, Daelmans stroopwafels and Schär gluten-free ladyfingers. The cupboard end is here too -- Barilla pasta, Heinz ketchup and relish, Herb-Ox bouillon, Hellmann's and Duke's mayonnaise packets, Coffee mate creamer singles.

Peanut-free is not nut-free, and we have not blurred the two. Only the peanut line of the manufacturer's allergen statement is sorted on, so tree nuts are still in this aisle -- the Rigoni di Asiago hazelnut spreads sit in it. Filter separately if tree nuts are also a problem, and check the physical label, since recipes and shared-line warnings change.

Common Questions

Is peanut-free the same as nut-free?

No. These products contain no peanuts according to the manufacturer, but some contain tree nuts such as hazelnuts. If you need nut-free, check each product's allergen statement for tree nuts too.

Are these safe for school lunchboxes?

Many schools ask for peanut-free snacks, and this aisle is built for that. Some schools are fully nut-free, so check your school's rules and the label before packing.

What about shared equipment warnings?

Some products carry a "may contain" or "made in a facility" line. Those warnings change with the manufacturer, so always check the label on the package you receive.