from Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
People with food allergies face challenges from confusing food labels. Doctors at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago wrote in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology that consumers with food allergies often misunderstand food labels regarding allergens. For instance some labels say “may contain” or “manufactured on shared equipment” Law requires labeling if a major food allergen is an intended ingredient, but the law does not require labeling about the presence of allergens in food as a result of processing on shared equipment. That is voluntary for food manufacturers. Researchers call for regulation and standardization of precautionary allergen labeling. Until then, they recommend avoiding foods with precautionary labeling for a particular food, regardless of the wording.