Peanut ingredient specifications

Start with product form, not the name

Roasted Pickouts and Runner Inshells describe different product forms, but a name alone does not establish a complete specification. “Pickouts” can refer to raw, shelled peanuts; confirm whether Roasted Pickouts are actually roasted, and clarify kernel form, skin status, roast description and any additions such as salt or oil. Runner Inshells indicates peanuts in the shell, but does not by itself establish a grade or inspection basis.

These distinctions matter when receiving, processing or evaluating a lot. A shelled-kernel grading reference does not automatically apply to in-shell peanuts, and a roasted-peanut specification should not be assumed to cover raw product.

Match checks to the intended use

For roasted peanuts, agree on roast level, flavor and odor, skin condition, and the distribution of whole kernels, splits and pieces. For in-shell peanuts, specify the intended use and the relevant inspection or grading method rather than borrowing criteria for shelled kernels. USDA peanut grade standards are voluntary commercial descriptions, not proof that a similarly named product meets a particular grade.

For human-food peanuts, request lot-linked aflatoxin testing documentation and identify the testing basis. In either form, compare the supplier’s current lot information with the agreed specification; program-specific limits are not universal commercial requirements.

Common questions.