Table of Contents
Can you eat something that says may contain nuts?
While you could eat ‘may contain’ products safely without realising the warning, avoid doing so. These products can contain harmful allergens and can be life-threatening.
Why does packaging say may contain nuts?
Also look out for voluntary “may contain” labels, such as “may contain traces of peanut”. Manufacturers sometimes put this label on their products to warn consumers that they may have become accidentally contaminated with another food product during the production process.
Is may contain wheat safe?
If you see a product with one of the “May contain”-type statements on a GFCO-certified product, rest assured it is safely gluten-free.
Why is it essential for clear information about ingredients allergens like nuts and sesame on food labels?
Some foods and food ingredients or their components can cause severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, which is why declaring allergens is important.
Why am I allergic to all nuts except almonds?
Allergies to More than One Nut People can be allergic to one type of tree nut, to some tree nuts, or many tree nuts. Some tree nuts contain similar proteins—for example, almonds and hazelnuts contain similar proteins, as do walnuts and pecans, and pistachios and cashews.
Why do foods say may contain wheat?
May Contain Wheat statements on food labels are voluntarily placed on labels by manufacturers, are not regulated, and are there to warn wheat-allergic consumers, not gluten-free consumers.
When a product says may contain wheat?
not labeled “gluten-free” but labeled “may contain” or “made on shared equipment with” wheat/gluten. This means the product could contain more than 20 ppm of gluten. Celiac Disease Foundation is the nation’s leading disease advocacy organization for celiac disease and non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity.
Why allergen information in food labels is important?
Food allergen labeling is an important tool to reduce risk of exposure and prevent anaphylaxis for individuals with food allergies.
Should you avoid food labelled “May Contain Nuts”?
Avoiding a food labelled “may contain nuts” is something I can do. It’s an element of this whole food allergy business that I can control. There may only be a slim chance that a food labelled “may contain nuts” actually contains enough peanut to trigger a reaction.
Are ‘May Contain Nuts’ warnings becoming more difficult to interpret?
‘May contain nuts/trace of nuts’ warnings are becoming ever more complex and ever more difficult to interpret. It is not nuts themselves that are the problem, but the confusion arising from the laudable efforts of regulators and manufacturers to improve allergen labelling for the benefit of allergic consumers.
What does “may contain” mean on food labels?
“May contain” labels are intended to alert consumers to the possibility of accidental cross contamination during the production process. So, for example, if your supposedly nut free breakfast cereal is produced in the same factory as nutty granola, the manufacturer might put “may contain nuts” (or an equivalent warning) on your cereal packet.
Do high-risk products with warning labels about Peanuts actually contain peanuts?
When tested, only seven percent of the high-risk products with warning statements about peanuts actually had detectable levels of the nut. Other samples that had precautionary labelling for hazelnut, milk, egg, soy or lupin had no detectable level of those allergens present at all.