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USE OF RBD PEANUT OIL
Occasionally, we receive consumer inquiries asking us if our line of peanut oil Kettle Classic Potato Chips could "contaminate" any of our other snack products that do not contain peanuts or peanut oil.  This type of question indicates there is confusion among consumers who believe that the refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD) peanut oil we use is a source of allergen to peanut allergic individuals.

Allergens are proteins in food that can cause an immune response in sensitive individuals.  Such hypersensitivity reactions from peanuts can range from mild abdominal discomfort to severe, life-threatening anaphylaxis.  Scientists have isolated the several allergens found in peanuts that cause allergic reactions.  All these peanut allergens have proven to be proteins.  Vegetable oils extracted from a process commonly known as "cold press" may not remove all traces of protein and should not be consumed by persons with allergies to specific seeds or nut proteins.  However, Utz Quality Foods does not use any oils derived from this process.  All of our oils are refined, bleached and deodorized, including peanut oil.  Oils that go through this process do not contain detectable levels of protein.  RBD peanut oil is therefore a highly unlikely source of danger to peanut sensitive individuals.  All clinical trials of peanut sensitive patients that were administered controlled amounts of RBD peanut oil have not manifested any type of allergic symptoms during the course of these challenge studies.

Historically, the usual and reasonable advice that has been given to peanut sensitive individuals is the total avoidance of peanuts and all other potential sources of the allergen, including peanut oil.  However, based on sound scientific knowledge that has been accumulated over the last two decades, it is reasonable to conclude that it is not necessary to eliminate or restrict the use of commercially available sources of peanut oil by peanut sensitive individuals.  Since our Kettle Classic line of potato chips is fried in only pure (RBD) peanut oil, we believe this product should not represent a danger to peanut sensitive individuals.  Nevertheless, even though our supplier of peanut oil assures us that there are no detectable levels of protein remaining in the peanut oil we use, Utz Quality Foods, Inc. cannot independently guarantee this.  The final decision and responsibility to consume products containing peanut oil shall remain with you and your allergist.

The following is a list of general product categories that would be free of any type of peanut protein and/or peanut oil:

• All our regular potato chips fried in cottonseed oil
• All our Natural Kettle Cooked potato chips fried in sunflower oil
• Grandma Utz potato chips kettle fried in lard
• All our tortilla and corn chips, both unflavored and flavored
• All our popcorn products
• All our baked cheese curls, fried cheese curls, baked cheese balls
• All our pretzels products
• Party Mix
• Pub Mix
• Onion Rings
• All of Ready-To-Eat chips

 

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