Editing Peanut (section)

=== Allergies ===
{{Main|Peanut allergy}}

Some people (1.4–2% in Europe and the United States<ref name="Allergo">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Lange L, et al |date=28 September 2021 |title=White paper on peanut allergy – part 1: Epidemiology, burden of disease, health economic aspects |journal=Allergo J Int. |volume=30 |issue=8 |pages=261–269 |doi=10.1007/s40629-021-00189-z |pmc=8477625 |pmid=34603938}}</ref>) report that they experience [[allergy|allergic reactions]] to peanut exposure; symptoms can be especially severe, ranging from watery eyes to [[anaphylaxis|anaphylactic shock]], the latter of which is generally fatal if untreated. Eating a small amount of peanuts can cause a reaction. Because of their widespread use in prepared and packaged foods, avoiding peanuts can be difficult. Reading ingredients and warnings on product packaging is necessary to avoid this allergen. Foods processed in facilities that also handle peanuts on the same equipment as other foods are required to carry such warnings on their labels. Avoiding cross-contamination with peanuts and peanut products (along with other severe allergens like shellfish) is a promoted and common practice of which chefs and restaurants worldwide are becoming aware.

The [[hygiene hypothesis]] of allergy states that a lack of early childhood exposure to infectious agents like germs and parasites could be causing the increase in food allergies.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 14, 2010 |title=Peanut Allergy on the Rise: Why? |url=http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20100514/peanut-allergies-in-kids-on-the-rise |access-date=May 18, 2010 |website=WebMD}}</ref>

Studies comparing age of peanut introduction in Great Britain with introduction in Israel showed that delaying exposure to peanuts in childhood can dramatically increase the risk of developing peanut allergies.<ref>[http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/38370/title/Food_allergy_advice_may_be_peanuts Food allergy advice may be peanuts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109032845/http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/38370/title/Food_allergy_advice_may_be_peanuts|date=November 9, 2008}}, [[Science News]], December 6, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Høst |first1=A |last2=Halken |first2=S |last3=Muraro |first3=A |last4=Dreborg |first4=S |last5=Niggemann |first5=B |last6=Aalberse |first6=R |last7=Arshad |first7=SH |last8=Von Berg |first8=A |last9=Carlsen |first9=KH |last10=Duschén |first10=Karel |last11=Eigenmann |first11=Philippe A. |last12=Hill |first12=David |last13=Jones |first13=Catherine |last14=Mellon |first14=Michael |last15=Oldeus |first15=Göran |display-authors=8 |year=2008 |title=Dietary prevention of allergic diseases in infants and small children |journal=Pediatric Allergy and Immunology |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=1–4 |doi=10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00680.x |pmid=18199086 |s2cid=8831420 |last16=Oranje |first16=Arnold |last17=Pascual |first17=Cristina |last18=Prescott |first18=Susan |last19=Sampson |first19=Hugh |last20=Svartengren |first20=Magnus |last21=Wahn |first21=Ulrich |last22=Warner |first22=Jill A. |last23=Warner |first23=John O. |last24=Vandenplas |first24=Yvan |last25=Wickman |first25=Magnus |last26=Zeiger |first26=Robert S.}}</ref>

Peanut allergy has been associated with the use of skin preparations containing peanut oil among children, but the evidence is not regarded as conclusive.<ref name="lack">{{cite journal |vauthors=Lack G, Fox D, Northstone K, Golding J |year=2003 |title=Factors Associated with the Development of Peanut Allergy in Childhood |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |volume=348 |issue=11 |pages=977–85 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa013536 |pmid=12637607 |s2cid=13280248 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Peanut allergies have also been associated with family history and intake of soy products.<ref name="lack" />

Some [[school district]]s in the US and elsewhere have banned peanuts or products containing peanuts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hartocollis |first=Anemona |date=September 23, 1998 |title=Nothing's Safe: Some Schools Ban Peanut Butter as Allergy Threat |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9907E3D81E30F930A1575AC0A96E958260 |access-date=August 18, 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nevius |first=C.W. |date=September 9, 2003 |title=One 5-year-old's allergy leads to class peanut ban |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/09/MN79933.DTL%0D |access-date=August 18, 2009 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=September 14, 2008 |title=School peanut ban in need of review |url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080914/OPINION01/309149938 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005120233/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080914/OPINION01/309149938 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2008 |access-date=August 18, 2009 |work=Nashua Telegraph}}</ref> However, the efficacy of the bans in reducing allergic reactions is uncertain. A 2015 study in Canada found no difference in the percentage of accidental exposures occurring in schools prohibiting peanuts compared to schools allowing them.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cherkaoui |first1=Sabrine |last2=Ben-Shoshan |first2=Moshe |last3=Alizadehfar |first3=Reza |last4=Asai |first4=Yuka |last5=Chan |first5=Edmond |last6=Cheuk |first6=Stephen |last7=Shand |first7=Greg |last8=St-Pierre |first8=Yvan |last9=Harada |first9=Laurie |date=January 1, 2015 |title=Accidental exposures to peanut in a large cohort of Canadian children with peanut allergy |journal=Clinical and Translational Allergy |volume=5 |page=16 |doi=10.1186/s13601-015-0055-x |issn=2045-7022 |pmc=4389801 |pmid=25861446 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Refined peanut oil will not cause allergic reactions in most people with peanut allergies.<ref name="The anaphylaxis campaign">{{cite web |title=The anaphylaxis campaign: peanut oil |url=http://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/information/peanut_oil.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418090105/http://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/information/peanut_oil.html |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |access-date=August 18, 2009 |publisher=Anaphylaxis.org.uk}}</ref> However, crude (unrefined) peanut oils have been shown to contain protein, which may cause allergic reactions.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hoffman DR, Collins-Williams C |year=1994 |title=Cold-pressed peanut oils may contain peanut allergen |journal=The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |volume=93 |issue=4 |pages=801–2 |doi=10.1016/0091-6749(94)90262-3 |pmid=8163791 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In a randomized, [[double-blind]] [[crossover study]], 60 people with proven peanut allergy were challenged with both crude peanut oil and refined peanut oil. The authors concluded, "Crude peanut oil caused allergic reactions in 10% of allergic subjects studied and should continue to be avoided." They also stated, "Refined peanut oil does not seem to pose a risk to most people with peanut allergy." However, they point out that refined peanut oil can still pose a risk to peanut-allergic individuals if the oil that has previously been used for cooking foods containing peanuts is reused.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hourihane JO, Bedwani SJ, Dean TP, Warner JO |year=1997 |title=Randomised, double blind, crossover challenge study of allergenicity of peanut oils in subjects allergic to peanuts |journal=BMJ |volume=314 |issue=7087 |pages=1084–8 |doi=10.1136/bmj.314.7087.1084 |pmc=2126478 |pmid=9133891}}</ref>