GROUNDNUT AND GROUNDNUT OIL ALLERGY

Peanut allergy is the second more frequent food-allergy in pediatry. A llergens of the peanut kernel were well characterized and the amino-ac id sequence of some of them has been already determined. Recently, we have identified two allergenic proteins with respective Mr at 18 and 4 1 kDa which are found in both shell and kernel of peanut.. Most of the peanut products of the food industry can provoke an allergic adverse reaction. However, allergic reaction to peanut oil is a controversed m atter. Adapted milks and vitamin oil preparations could be responsible for sensitization to peanut proteins. We have found trace proteins in peanut oil, which are detected by specific IgE of sera from patients allergic to peanut. Their allergenicity was evidenced by Protein-Sepha rose IgE-RIA, in vitro leukocyte histamine release tests and western b lotting. These results confirm the necessity for an adequate informati on on the labels of prepacked peanut derivatives.