Can Peanut Oil Cause Allergy Symptoms In Patients Who Are Allergic To Peanuts?

Most cooking oils that are commercially produced, including peanut oil, are highly refined using a hot solvent extraction method, causing the protein to be removed from the product. Since it is the proteins in foods that are responsible for food allergy, these highly refined oils are typically considered nonallergenic. Obser-vations made over many years have demonstrated that people with severe peanut allergy do not have allergic reactions to processed oils.

While most large grocery stores and restaurants sell or use oils that are solvent extracted, patients may occasionally  encounter cold-pressed oils, which may be marketed as gourmet products. These oils may contain allergenic proteins and should therefore be carefully avoided by all peanut-allergic patients. For the same reason, allergic individuals should avoid oils that have been used to fry potentially allergenic foods.