Peanut-Free Birdseed: Why It Matters & How We Make It

It's personal.

With a peanut allergy in the family and backyard birds we wanted to feed, we went looking for birdseed that was safe for us to use — meaning it didn't contain peanuts, didn't have visible pieces of peanuts in it, and didn't carry the risk of cross-contact.

Knowing that allergen labelling on pet food, including birdseed, is voluntary, we didn't trust anything.

We looked, and looked, and looked. Nothing was safe.

None of this sat right with us. So we got to work to change this — for our family and for all the families, individuals, schools, parks, and community spaces who wanted to safely feed the birds.

You can learn more about our story and why we do what we do here

What is Peanut-Free Birdseed?

Peanut-free birdseed is birdseed produced without peanuts and without peanut cross-contact during sourcing, manufacturing, or packaging. It's designed for households, schools, and community environments where peanut exposure must be carefully avoided.

Because peanuts are widely used in conventional birdseed and in the facilities where it's manufactured, and because allergen labelling on pet food (including birdseed) is voluntary, certified peanut-free birdseed helps families and institutions make clearer, safer choices.

For Us, Peanut-Free Birdseed Means:

• No peanuts are included as ingredients
• Ingredients are sourced with peanut controls in place
• Production follows protocols designed to prevent peanut cross-contact
• The finished product is tested and verified peanut-free by a third party accredited lab.

Wallis Johns is, as far as we know, the first and only certified peanut-free wild birdseed brand — created specifically for people navigating peanut allergies and for peanut-free environments.

Why Peanut-Free Birdseed Matters

Feeding backyard birds should be simple. For many families, it is.

But for households, schools, and community spaces navigating peanut allergies, conventional birdseed can present an unexpected concern and safety risk - peanuts.

Peanut-free birdseed exists to make bird feeding accessible in environments where peanut exposure must be carefully managed or avoided.

Who Benefits From Peanut-Free Birdseed?

Peanut-free birdseed can be especially important for:

• Homes where a family member has a peanut allergy
• Homes where a close-by neighbour has a peanut allergy. It's common for squirrels to carry peanuts from one yard to another, this can present a real safety risk, especially for young kids. 
• Schools and Montessori programs
• Daycares and camps
• Public parks and shared community spaces
• Nature centres and educational programs

In these settings, minimizing accidental peanut exposure helps create safer, more inclusive environments and outdoor experiences.

If you're an educational institution or community organization, learn more about our Educational & Community Program.

Our Approach to Peanut-Free Verification

Every batch of our peanut-free birdseed is tested and verified peanut-free by a third-party accredited lab. 

But even before that, we work with carefully selected ingredients and facilities to ensure our birdseed meets defined peanut-free standards. Because for us, peanut-free isn't a label. It's the whole point.

Why Are Peanuts Common in Birdseed?

Peanuts are widely used in birdseed because they are:

• High in fat and protein
• Attractive to many bird species
• Cost-effective and readily available

Because peanuts are so commonly used in both birdseed and pet food production, many facilities process peanut-containing and non-peanut products on shared equipment.

Unlike human food, allergen labelling requirements for pet food, including birdseed, is voluntary.

This means conventional birdseed often:

• Contains peanuts as part of the ingredients
• May contain peanuts due to cross-contact with other ingredients
• Is produced in facilities that also process peanuts on shared equipment, also leading to cross-contact 

For many households, this isn't a concern. For allergy-aware environments, it is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are birds allergic to peanuts?

No. There is no evidence that backyard birds are allergic to peanuts.

This is a question we're asked a lot, and we're always happy when people take the time to ask.

Peanut-free birdseed is designed for people navigating peanut allergies and for use in peanut-free environments, not because birds are allergic, but because peanut-free environments require avoiding peanuts, including in unexpected places, like birdseed.

What is aflatoxin and why does it matter?

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring toxin produced by mold that can grow on peanuts and other crops. It poses health risks to birds and can contaminate feeders. While aflatoxin can occur in various seeds, peanuts are particularly susceptible.

Our peanut-free formulations eliminate this particular risk from peanuts entirely, ensuring safer feeding for your backyard visitors.

Is peanut-free birdseed necessary?

For many households, conventional birdseed works well.

But for families, schools, and public spaces managing peanut allergies, certified peanut-free birdseed is necessary and offers added reassurance and safety.

How is your birdseed certified peanut-free?

All of our products are verified peanut-free by a third-party accredited lab. We follow strict sourcing and production protocols to prevent cross-contact.

What birds can I attract with peanut-free birdseed?

Lots! We don't just make peanut-free birdseed, we make really, really great birdseed.

Our premium (no fillers, ever) peanut-free blends are loved by and attract all the seed-eating backyard birds, coast-to-coast, all year long, including chickadees, nuthatches, finches, cardinals, and many, many more. You can get to know a few of them here. 

Can I use your peanut-free birdseed in schools and daycares?

Yes. Our birdseed is specifically designed for peanut-free environments like schools, daycares, nature centres, and community spaces.

If you're managing other allergens at your facility, you can view our full allergen statement [here].

If you're an educational institution or community organization that wants to enjoy the birds, you might be interested in our Educational & Community Program.

Does peanut-free birdseed cost more?

In short, yes. Our birdseed has a higher cost due to our specialized sourcing and strict production protocols.

Also, our birdseed costs more because we use premium ingredients that birds truly love, no (cheap) fillers. Ever.

Did you know that many blends of wild birdseed contain up to 70% or more of filler seeds (like corn, wheat, milo and red millet), that's to say seeds that backyard birds aren't that fond of. Fillers make it seem like you're getting a lot of birdseed for not a lot of money, but most backyard birds aren't fond of filler seeds so the birds discard them which can lead to mold (very dangerous for birds) and/or attract rodents.

We decided very early on that we wanted nothing to do with fillers. So also for this reason our blends do cost more. We think it's worth it, and so do all the birds.