Peanut Oil and Peanut Food Allergies

If you’re allergic to peanuts or nuts in general, chances are you’ve wondered about the oil they use for cooking at restaurants. Five Guys and Chick-fil-A are probably the two most well-known examples that use peanut oil in their fryers. Many individuals that suffer from nut allergies often limit their dining out options due to the use of peanut oil in restaurants. Below we’ll explain why you may want to reconsider.

Cooking oils used by most restaurants, especially the big commercial franchises that use peanut oil, use highly processed, refined peanut oil. You might be wondering why this is important. Well, the oil refining process involves high heat, deodorization, bleaching, purification, and other methods of processing to strip away many of the peanut proteins that may be responsible for the allergic reaction to peanuts. As a result, only purified and refined oil is left behind.

When you’re considering testing your allergy to peanut oil, the ones to avoid are often the gourmet unrefined peanut oils. These oils will usually have labels calling them ‘cold-pressed,’ ‘natural,’ ‘unrefined,’ ‘gourmet,’ or ‘aromatic’ on the bottle. Found in the condiment’s aisles at supermarkets or specialty stores, these oils often forego the refining process and retain much if not all of their molecular makeup, including their allergic proteins.

Additionally, there are research studies that help to back up these findings, and the FDA makes specific note of oils in the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) [Paragraph 1-201.10(B)]. So, if you find yourself with a sudden craving for fries cooked in peanut oil, chances are you might be able to test the waters and get away with eating them if they are using refined peanut oil as opposed to unrefined peanut oil. Always be sure to check with your doctor first. It should go without saying we don’t recommend this option for people with severe nut or peanut allergies.

Now, the only reasons to avoid Five Guys might be the actual peanuts in their restaurants or your expanding waistline. If you’re worried about peanut oil allergies, always inquire about the oil before ordering, and discuss with your allergist if you have any questions or reservations about a possible peanut oil allergy.

For more information on FDA guidelines concerning food allergens or for a convenient way to let restaurant staff know about your peanut food allergies, try our convenient food allergy cards.

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