About
Groundnut oil (also called peanut oil or arachis oil) is an edible vegetable oil derived from the seeds of Arachis hypogaea L., widely used for cooking, frying, and food manufacturing due to its high smoke point and mild flavour. It is composed primarily of oleic acid (monounsaturated) and linoleic acid (polyunsaturated) fatty acids.
Safety summary
Properly refined groundnut oil is broadly safe for the general population; however, it is a major peanut allergen vehicle and can trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitised individuals. A key secondary risk is aflatoxin contamination from Aspergillus flavus in raw groundnuts — IARC classifies naturally occurring aflatoxin mixtures as a Group 1 human carcinogen, with AFB1 strongly linked to hepatocellular carcinoma. Regulatory bodies globally set maximum aflatoxin limits (4–20 µg/kg) to mitigate this risk, and refining significantly reduces but may not fully eliminate residual aflatoxins in crude oil.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | Permitted edible oil under FSANZ Food Standards Code. Total aflatoxin maximum level for peanuts and peanut products is 15 µg/kg. Peanut is a mandatory allergen declaration.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Approved edible oil under EU food law. Peanuts and peanut products are mandatory allergen declarations under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Aflatoxin B1 maximum level for groundnuts for direct human consumption is 2 µg/kg and total aflatoxins (B1+B2+G1+G2) is 4 µg/kg per Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. EFSA confirms aflatoxins are genotoxic and carcinogenic.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Permitted as an edible vegetable oil under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Chapter 2.2. Standards prescribe maximum acid value, moisture, and aflatoxin contaminant limits (lead max 0.1 mg/kg for crude and edible groundnut oils). Solvent-extracted oil must be refined before human consumption and contain ≤5 ppm hexane. Nutritional claims norms notified in 2020.source |
| FAO/WHO (Codex Alimentarius Commission) (International (Codex Alimentarius)) | Approved | Defined in Codex Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CODEX STAN 210-1999, amended 2015) as 'Arachis oil (peanut oil; groundnut oil)' derived from groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). No food additives are permitted in virgin or cold-pressed oils. Products must comply with CODEX STAN 193-1995 for contaminant (including aflatoxin) maximum levels. |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1EFSA. Aflatoxins in Food – EFSA Topic Page. efsa.europa.eu
- 2FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations – Chapter 2.2: Fats, Oils and Fat Emulsions (Version 3, 2024), 2024. fssai.gov.in
- 3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations – Compendium Version V (2020), 2020. fssai.gov.in
- 4PubMed. Mitigating Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnut through A Combination of Genetic Resistance and Post-Harvest Management Practices, 2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5FAO/WHO. Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CODEX STAN 210-1999, amended 2015), 2015. fao.org
- 6PubMed. Global Risk Assessment of Aflatoxins in Maize and Peanuts: Are Regulatory Standards Adequately Protective?, 2013.
