Food allergy labels: Do they matter?

The last time you bought prepackaged food, did you notice the little blurb at the bottom that said, “Made in a facility that processes (fill in a potential allergen here)”? If you have any food allergies, you probably did. Or…maybe not.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 2 percent of adults and 4 to 8 percent of kids in the U.S. have food allergies. These allergies cause around 150 deaths each year. Reactions in those with allergies who eat foods containing the allergen can range from a minor rash or itchy tongue, to a life-threatening reaction such as anaphylactic shock or difficulty breathing. It’s a fairly obvious conclusion, then, that those with allergies should pay close attention to labels that indicate the food might continue the allergens to which they’re sensitive, right? But do these labels really make a difference? Are such foods actually higher in those (potential) allergens than foods that aren’t labeled as such? Are there regulations in place requiring companies to include the warning when the food was processed in a plant that might contain allergens?

Well, no. It’s true that companies are required to state when their products contain  allergens, but the law doesn’t require them to indicate whether it might contain “traces” of potential allergens such as tree nuts or dairy when the food wouldn’t normally contain such items. It’s up to individual companies whether they think it’s necessary to include the warning.

But a recent study that was published as a letter to the editor in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that yes, foods with warnings about possible contamination actually do contain higher levels of these foods. Researchers found that, after analyzing over 400 foods from supermarket shelves, five percent of foods with the warnings did have traces of allergens in them (a total of 19 foods altogether), whereas only 2 percent of foods without labels had them.

So what does that mean to the consumer? Well, if you have food allergies, as frustrating as it might be, it makes sense to check prepackaged foods for possible allergens – and then not buy foods that indicate they might be contaminated. The good news is that there are more and more allergy-free foods available these days, and the possible substitutes for our favorite foods are becoming more prevalent than ever. So check those labels, and stick to allergy-free foods if you have sensitivities. It might be a little annoying, but a trip to the hospital is a whole lot more annoying!

Do you have food allergies? Do you check labels for potential allergen contamination? If so, we’d love to hear how it’s been going. Share with us in the contents!