Read That Label!

With practice, you get better at reading product labels for ingredients. My wife Krystyne has often gone to the local supermarket with other parents to help them find “safe” foods for their family. We can now be in and out of the store in about the same time as it takes anyone buying groceries with three lively kids in tow. :)

Over the last three years we’ve learned which brands are usually safe and can pick them up relatively quickly. However, we still check the labels every time, because many manufacturers are still adjusting to listing food allergies on their packaging. We live in Canada, where the labelling laws are pretty good for highlighting ingredients – imported foods, not so much – but there is still no standard for labelling food allergens. Here are a few samples from our shopping today. Notice that there are a number of different ways that companies list the allergen information.

 

The first is from totally nutfree’s “FreeNut Butter” – the item that has replaced peanut butter in Mommy and Daddy’s diet. They proudly advertise that their facility is nut-free but it’s only Mommy and Daddy that are allowed to eat it, since a peanut allergy can also trigger a soy allergy. Also it’s hard for a 5-year old to differentiate between peanut and soy butter by look or smell (taste is pretty close too), so the freenut butter becomes a “Mommy and Daddy treat” like Coke and coffee.

The second is the method most manufacturers are using – listing the allergens in bold type after the regulated ingredients list. We’ve seen others that bold the allergens within the main ingredients as well.

The third is from a package of hot dog buns, which lists the allergens after their main ingredients, but not in any special type face.

The final picture is from a package of Old El Paso taco shells. They don’t list their allergens on the package, but you can’t assume that means there are none. We had to call the company and confirm their manufacturing plant was free from other nut-related products. We’ve found a few companies in the US in this way that have fully nut-free facilities, which has allowed us to add those to our shelves as well.

But you still need to read the labels every time, as manufacturing practices and product lines can change. For example, Quaker’s Large Rice Cakes and Crispy Minis are no longer on the “safe snacking list” for Liam’s school, as the product line has been moved to a different facility that also processes nuts.

We receive a number of food alerts from Health Canada, emailed to us whenever there is a warning or announcement on food quality or regulations surrounding allergens. You can sign up for their Food Allergies e-Notice here.

** UPDATE – 21 May 2009 **

DOLE’s “Asian Crunch” salad kit has been renamed to “Asian Island Crunch”, and now contains almonds! Read that label carefully!

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Here is the warning we got regarding the change at Quaker …

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From: "info@anaphylaxis.ca" <info@anaphylaxis.ca>
To: <undisclosed recipients>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 5:20:01 PM
Subject: Product Change Notification: Quaker Large Rice Cakes & Quaker Crispy Minis

Dear Registrant,

PepsiCo Foods Canada has recently made changes to the production of it Quaker Large Rice Cakes and Quaker Crispy Minis. Both products are now being made in a different production facility and as such there have been formula changes to some of their products as well as the introduction of allergens that were not previously found in their products in Canada.

Please read the notice below for all the products that have been impacted by this change.

If you have any questions/concerns, please contact PepsiCo Foods Canada directly through their customer relations department at 1-800-267-6287.

For your information,

Anaphylaxis Canada

NOTICE FROM: PepsiCo Foods Canada

February 2009

IMPORTANT NOTICE: CHANGE TO QUAKER RICE CAKES FORMULAS AND INTRODUCTION OF ALLERGENS

Quaker rice cakes (Quaker Large Rice Cakes and Quaker Crispy Minis) available in Canada are now being made in a different production facility. As a result, there will be formula changes to some of the flavours and the introduction of allergens that were previously not found in Quaker rice cakes products in Canada. The affected products are beginning to appear on store shelves in Canada.

Quaker Large Rice Cakes and Quaker Crispy Minis are now being produced in facilities that contain allergens, including peanut, wheat, barley, sulphite, milk, soy and egg. Accordingly, ingredients listings will be changing, and precautionary labeling will be added to affected products, as follows:

QUAKER LARGE RICE CAKES

FLAVOUR	CURRENT FORMULA	NEW FORMULA
Plain		May Contain Peanut.
Caramel	Contains Milk, Soy and Sulphite Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Peanut.
Butter Toffee Cracker Jack	Contains Soy, Milk and Sulphite Ingredients.	Contains Soy, Milk, Barley and Sulphite Ingredients. May Contain Peanut.
White Cheddar	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk, Soy and Egg Ingredients. May Contain Peanut.
Butter	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Egg Ingredients. May Contain Peanut.
Caramel Chocolate Chip	Contains Milk, Soy and Sulphite Ingredients.	Contains Milk, Soy and Sulphite Ingredients. May Contain Peanut.
Tomato Basil	Contains Milk & Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Peanut.

QUAKER CRISPY MINIS

FLAVOUR	CURRENT FORMULA	NEW FORMULA
Ketchup	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg and Peanut.
Sea Salt & Lime	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg and Peanut.
BBQ	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Barley Ingredients. May Contain Soy, Egg, Wheat and Peanut.
Salt & Vinegar	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg and Peanut.
Cheddar Cheese	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg and Peanut.
Caramel Kettle Corn	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Sulphites. May Contain Wheat, Milk, Soy, Egg and Peanut.
Dill	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg and Peanut.
Sour Cream & Onion (formerly Sour Cream & Chives)	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk Ingredients. May Contain Soy, Wheat, Egg and Peanut.
Butter	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg and Peanut.

Quaker Foods Canada reminds consumers of these important tips regarding the importance of carefully reading food ingredient labels:

• Food-allergic individuals and those buying for them are encouraged to read food ingredient labels at least three times: once when purchasing the item; a second time when putting the item away; and a third time just prior to serving the item.

• Take steps to improve your understanding of labeling regulations and their limitations. It should never be assumed that all sizes and flavours have identical allergen profiles, so check the label every time.

Products with a may contain warning could be problematic for individuals with life-threatening food allergies. If there is a precautionary warning, it is possible that the product contains traces of the allergen.

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It may feel like you’re alone in all of this, but there are others that have gone, are going, and will go through this around you. Reach out for help. That’s the hope of this blog – that we can help you as you learn to adapt to this life-changing allergy for the safety of those you love.