A common mistake is that people think that if the thing they're allergic to isn't an ingredient in their food, they won't have a reaction. But sometimes if it's in the same box as the thing they're allergic to, they can still have a reaction.
One time my aunt put cookies that had nuts in them in the same box as a cookie that I ate (that didn't have nuts), and I had a reaction.
This is why it's important to keep the foods separate but equal. You can still have your delicious food, but without it touching the things you're allergic to.
ALWAYS ASK restaurants, bakers, cooks, etc. if the food you're getting contains your allergen. This could seem odd, but trust me, sometimes foods include weird ingredients.
For example, I've encountered a bakery that used almond paste for ALL of its baked goods, including bread. Also, many restaurants use peanut and sesame oil to cook their foods (including burgers)! In other countries and in foreign foods (that are even sold in America) they use different names for the same foods. You need to make sure that you know the different names for your allergen. For example, my mom cooked a ravioli that had an ingredient called "pinoli" in its sauce that actually meant "pine nut," but my mom didn't know that and assumed it was fine. IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, LOOK IT UP. Don't take the risk. It never hurts to ask!
