Does RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) coconut oil need to be declared as an allergen or not?
Hello,
We are being asked to use a dried banana chip in a kit, and I had a question about its allergen declaration. In reviewing the specifications from the supplier, it says that RBD Coconut oil is used. However, when reviewing the allergen declaration from the supplier, there are none listed.
I just wanted to ensure that RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) Coconut oil does not need to be declared as an allergen, because of the processing which should remove the allergenic proteins from the coconut itself.
Thanks in advance to anyone providing input.
I do not think so. As you said, the process takes out the protein responsible for the allergic reaction. I remember reading a statement stating as such from cargil in regards to processed oils in general and specifically listing coconut.
which edible oils (soybean, canola, cottonseed, sunflower, corn, palm, palm kernel, coconut,
peanut) are extracted. These edible oils are then processed through refining, bleaching and
deodorization unit operations. These edible oils described in studies as "highly refined" do not
demonstrate a significant hazard to allergic individuals, as shown in studies using the "gold
standard" for food allergy diagnosis, the double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge.
7, part C.c.1.qq.2.1” under Conforming Amendments, states that highly refined oils are exempted as
major food allergens and thus no petition is needed.
102(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
shrimp), tree nuts (e.g., almonds, pecans, or walnuts), wheat, peanuts, and soybeans.
derived from such highly refined oil.”
Oils, Prepared for: Instiute of Shortening and Edible Oils, Inc., September 1, 1998
from Fiction, The Soy Connection, Volume 11, Number 2, Spring, 2003