FDA Says This Fruit Is A Treenut
THE USFDA SAYS THIS FRUIT IS A TREENUT
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family).
It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which, botanically, is a drupe, not a nut. The spelling cocoanut is an archaic form of the word. The term is derived from the 16th-century Portuguese and Spanish word coco meaning "head" or "skull", from the three indentations on the coconut shell that resemble facial features.
Botanically, the coconut fruit is a drupe, not a true nut. Like other fruits, it has three layers: the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The exocarp and mesocarp make up the "husk" of the coconut. Coconuts sold in the shops of nontropical countries often have had the exocarp (outermost layer) removed. The mesocarp is composed of a fiber, called coir, which has many traditional and commercial uses. The shell has three germination pores (stoma) or "eyes" that are clearly visible on its outside surface once the husk is removed.
However, in it's infinite wisdom and to keep things easy because it has the word nut in it's name, the USFDA has declared this fruit a treenut.
Because of this declaration, we at Gluten Free Territory have decided to drop coconut from our product line since we are a treenut free facility. With coconut in our line we are always listed with other companies that are not treenut free facilities. So, say goodbye to coconut from Gluten Free Territory. Order yours now because once they are gone, they are gone.
UPDATE: The GF&AF EXPO showed us just how popular our coconut sandwich cookie was and we have decided to keep it in our product line.