The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has called for clinical studies to be staged into whether edible neutralised (alkali refined) bleached and deodorised peanut oils can cause dangerous allergic reactions in peanut allergic individuals.


Its Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies said scientific data provided by the oils and fats industry was “insufficient to predict the likelihood of adverse reactions in peanut allergic individuals”.


Its assessment was staged at the request of the EU seed crushers and oil processors federation, FEDIOL, and the International Margarine Association of the Countries of Europe (IMACE). The EFSA panel was particularly concerned about “individuals with severe peanut allergy”.