Walnut | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Walnuts (Juglans regia) are edible tree nuts consumed as a whole food and ingredient, valued for their rich content of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), protein, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and minerals such as copper and manganese. They are used raw, roasted, or incorporated into baked goods, confections, salads, and savory dishes worldwide.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Walnuts carry FDA-qualified health claims for cardiovascular benefit and are approved in all major food-safety jurisdictions with no restrictions on general consumption; no Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is established because they are a whole food rather than a food additive. The primary safety risk is IgE-mediated tree nut allergy, which can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis, making walnuts a mandatorily declared allergen in the EU, US, and most major jurisdictions. High oxalate and phosphorus content warrants caution for individuals with chronic kidney disease or a history of calcium-oxalate kidney stones.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	Walnuts are a permitted whole food under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Tree nuts, including walnuts, are a declared allergen requiring mandatory labeling under Standard 1.2.3.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Walnuts are a permitted whole food. EFSA NDA Panel substantiated health claims linking walnuts to maintenance of normal LDL-cholesterol and improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EFSA Journal 2011;9(4):2074). Walnuts are one of 14 major allergens requiring mandatory declaration under Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Walnuts are a permitted natural food regulated under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. No quantity restriction applies for general consumption as a whole food. Packaged walnut products must comply with FSSAI labeling standards including allergen declaration.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Walnuts are a whole food, not a regulated food additive; no ADI applies. FDA issued a qualified health claim (March 2004) allowing label statements that 1.5 oz/day of walnuts may reduce coronary heart disease risk. Walnuts are a mandatorily labeled major food allergen (tree nut) under FALCPA 2004 (Public Law 108-282).

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Nut Allergy — Walnuts are a globally recognized major tree nut allergen capable of triggering IgE-mediated anaphylaxis; EFSA, FDA (FALCPA 2004), and FSSAI all require mandatory allergen labeling, and even trace amounts can provoke severe reactions in sensitized individuals.

Kidney Disease — Walnuts are relatively high in oxalates and phosphorus; elevated oxalate intake can promote calcium-oxalate kidney stone formation, and phosphorus load is a concern for patients with compromised renal clearance.

Infants — Whole or roughly chopped walnuts pose a significant choking hazard in infants and toddlers; introduction should be age-appropriate, in finely ground or pureed form, and ideally under pediatric guidance given the allergen potential.

Ibs — Walnuts are energy-dense and high in fat and fiber, which may trigger or worsen gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, cramping, or diarrhea in some individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.

Heart Disease — While walnuts carry a qualified heart-health claim, their high caloric density (~185 kcal/30 g) means excessive consumption could contribute to weight gain; patients on anticoagulant therapy should also note that walnuts contain vitamin K and may modestly affect INR stability.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1EFSA. Food allergens — EFSA safe2eat allergen information portal. efsa.europa.eu
2EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of allergenic foods and food ingredients for labelling purposes (EFSA NDA Panel, 2014), 2014. efsa.europa.eu
3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 — FSSAI Compendium, 2011. fssai.gov.in
4EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to walnuts and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations, maintenance of normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations and improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, 2011. efsa.europa.eu
5FDA. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), 2004. fda.gov

Independently researched5 citations