New food labels to protect the severely allergic
Posted August 3, 2012 3:48 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – As of today, you’ll notice changes to the labels on your food.
The changes are designed to reduce the number of recalls and to better protect people with severe allergies.
Laurie Harada with Anaphylaxis Canada says her organization had pushing for the alterations for some time and adds it’s about time the government has done something about it.
She explains most labels now have “plain language” ingredients, which will be listed in two spots on products. “It’s not a symbol. So if there is milk in the product it should either be listed in the ingredients or in a contained statement. And typically, the contained statement follows the ingredient list.”
Health Canada has come up with 10 “priority” allergens that have to be on the label including: peanuts, eggs, milk, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame seeds, seafood, mustard and sulphites.
Harada says this is key especially for people with Celiac disease and for parents who have little ones with dietary restrictions. “Milk is a common allergen and it could be listed as something like whey or casein. Well, most consumers wouldn’t know that is milk. Or ovalbumin for egg, for example,” she adds.
Industry organization Food and Consumer Products of Canada says its members have worked with the federal government for nearly two years to ensure food labels are comprehensive, easy to read and that their products are safe.
