Peanut traces in refined vegetable oil and allergy risk
What it found
A risk assessment predicted very few allergic reactions from peanut protein left in refined vegetable oils.
The authors say the risk is negligible.
What they found
Predicted reactions
For all products examined, the predicted risk of objective allergic reactions in peanut-allergic users was extremely low. The number of predicted reactions ranged from a high of 3 per 1000 eating occasions to no reactions, depending on the model.
Amounts involved
All predicted reactions were for allergen intakes well below the amounts reported for the most sensitive individual in the clinical literature.
Labelling advice
None of the food products would warrant precautionary labelling for peanut according to the VITAL programme of the Allergen Bureau.
What the authors conclude
“We conclude that the health risk from cross-contact between vegetable oils and refined peanut oil is negligible.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that the health risk from cross-contact between vegetable oils and refined peanut oil is negligible.
- They state that none of the food products would warrant precautionary labelling for peanut according to the VITAL ® programme of the Allergen Bureau.
How it was done
Refined vegetable oils, including refined peanut oil, are widely used in foods. Shared production processes mean refined non-peanut vegetable oils can contain leftover peanut proteins.
The authors used a probabilistic risk assessment on several scenarios involving food products made with vegetable oils. They looked at the production scale of refined peanut oil, cross-contact between oils during production, the fat content of foods, and the peanut protein level in refined peanut oil.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a risk assessment based on models and assumptions, not a study that fed these oils to people.
- It cannot show what would happen in every real-world situation or for every allergic person.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), United Kingdom
The paper
- Title
- Assessing food allergy risks from residual peanut protein in highly refined vegetable oil
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Blom WM, Kruizinga AG, Rubingh CM, Remington BC, Crevel RWR, Houben GF (2017). Assessing food allergy risks from residual peanut protein in highly refined vegetable oil. Food and chemical toxicology. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2017.05.072PubMed 28578104DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error