Nut Allergies and Food Labelling
Food avoidance remains the main strategy in preventing anaphylaxis in children with acute food allergies. This necessitates product labelling to be clear and accurate. Noimark et al found that food product labelling, although improved, often still remains ambiguous.
They carried out a study to try understand and quantify the attitudes of parents of children with nut allergy towards labels informing them that the product could contain nuts. A questionnaire survey was carried out (184 were completed).
They found that 80% of parents would not purchase a product labelled 'not suitable for nut allergy sufferers' or 'may contain nuts'. However, other labels including 'this product does not contain any nuts but is made in a factory that uses nuts', 'cannot guarantee is nut free' and 'may contain traces of nuts' were avoided by only around 50% of parents.
Previous allergic reaction to nut products had no bearing on outcome. Additionally, large numbers of parents did not read labels for the presence of nuts in non-food products.
The authors concluded that there is a need for further tightening of labelling legislation and improved education to help to decrease the risk of anaphylaxis. For example, the use of a common symbol to indicate the presence of individual allergens in food and personal care products could help allergy sufferers identify products to avoid – especially in multi-lingual communities.
Parents' attitudes when purchasing products for children with nut allergy: A UK perspective.
Noimark L, Gardner J, Warner JO.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2009 Jun 15.