Peanut flour in snack foods

Carol---We have received alerts from the FAN when peanut flour is found in items, so that tells me to avoid these products. And our Chic-Fil-A uses extruded peanut oil which is dangerous for anyone with a peanut allergy. I would avoid that place at all costs! Remember, you may not see what is happening on the inside of the body when exposed to peanut products, but we could be setting ourselves up for a greater reaction next time.

Mary Catherine,

I was curious, so I looked up the chick web site, chick-fil-a.com, and looked under menu and this is what I found for chick-fil-a nuggets (the same oil listed was also under the chick-fil-a sandwich). I would assume this is for the whole U.S. Are you in Canada or who told you that it was extruded? By extruded you mean cold-pressed right?

Ingredients: 100% natural whole breast meat with no fillers
or additives, seasoning (salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar,
spices), seasoned coater (enriched bleached flour [with
malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate,
riboflavin, folic acid], sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate,
nonfat milk, leavening [baking soda, sodium aluminum
phosphate, monocalcium phosphate], spice, soybean oil,
color [paprika]), milk wash (water, whole powdered egg and
nonfat milk solids), peanut oil (refined peanut oil with
TBHQ added to preserve freshness and Dimethyl silicone
to inhibit foaming).

The following is from a link on the peanut allergy web site. 'Peanut allergy: where do we stand?' I had read this and thought processed peanut oil was safe.

Peanut oil

-peanut oil is not allergenic. Of 10 peanut-allergic patients challenged with peanut oil, none reacted to the protein-free oils.
Subsequent reports have indicated that oils contaminated with protein may indeed produce significant allergic reactions in
peanut-sensitive individuals. Cold-pressed oils are more likely to contain peanut proteins than hot-pressed oils [15].

Carol S.

[This message has been edited by Carol S (edited February 12, 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Carol S (edited February 12, 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Carol S (edited February 12, 1999).]

I looked up information given to me by the Alberta Children's Hospital (Canada) F.Y.I.:

Pure peanut oil is non-allergenic and will not cause an allergic reation. HOWEVER, there is a good chance that the oil is contaminated with the peanut protein in its manufacture, so peanut - allergic persons, especially those who have experienced an anaphylactic reaction, are advised to avoid peanut oil also.

In addition, in the list of ingredients indicating the presence of Peanuts, also from ACH:

Peanut protein
Hydrolysed peanut protein
Peanut Oil
Peanut Butter
PEANUT FLOUR
Mixed nuts
Mandalona Nuts
Artificial nuts
Goober peas
Goober nuts

The following MAY contain Peanut:

Marzipan (almond paste)
Chili
Egg Rolls
Chinese, Thai food
Satay Sauces
Prepared soups (esp. dry packaged mixes)
Baked goods from Bakeries
Cookies
Candies
Chocolate Bars
Prepared Frozen dinners
Vegetable Oil
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Vegetable shortening

Continued information from ACH:
Peanuts are legumes and are botanically related to other legumes such as soy, lentils, fresh and dried peas and beans, licorice and carob. However, most people who have peanut allergy do not show signs of an adverse reaction to other legumes, and only peanuts need be avoided. Peanuts are unrelated to tree nuts such as hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, etc. However, its recommended to not allow children to eat any nuts due to the possiblity of trace amount in manufacturing of other nuts with peanuts at same plant, and because it is too confusing for a child to differ between a peanut and a pecan.

I know this is a long-winded reply, but I hope it helps some one out there.

The manager of our Chic-Fil-A contacted their supplier and informed me that the oil that they used is NOT safe for those with peanut allergies because it was extruded and may containn the peanut protein. We have enough trouble around here trying to find out what type of vegetable oil is used, let alone the TYPE of peanut oil. I was really surprised that this manager took the time to find out this information for us.