Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Food Allergies/How to Read a Label For Food Allergies

How to Read a Label For Food Allergies

How to Read a Label For Food Allergies
August 12, 2020
0 Comments
By: Ashley Devonshire, MD, MPH

Whether your child has received a new food allergy diagnosis, or you are a seasoned food allergy parent, reading food labels has its challenges.

Classically when we think of food allergies, we think of reactions like hives, swelling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and changes in blood pressure shortly after ingestion of a food. But there are also lesser-known types of food allergies that are hallmarked by different symptoms. Those can include food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) and eosinophilic disorders. In other words, every child with food allergies is different. Some need to avoid even the most minuscule amounts of an allergen. Others may be tolerant of those very small amounts.

As with any food-allergy-related diagnosis, it is important to be vigilant about food avoidance . This is because an accidental exposure can cause an adverse reaction – ranging from mild to very severe. 

Avoidance is our first-line of defense in management of food allergies. Because of this, I’d like to share a process of reading food labels so that families can learn how to avoid those allergens.

How to Read a Label for Food Allergies:

 

1. Understand the law

First, it’s important to understand what manufacturers are required to report. Labeling laws are different all across the world, so keep this in mind if you travel internationally. For the purposes of this post, we’ll stay focused on the United States.

In 2004, the U.S. passed a food allergen labeling and consumer protection act. This mandates that for packaged food products sold in the U.S. containing any of the eight major food allergens, the allergen has to be listed on the label. The eight major food allergens are milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish and crustacean shellfish. This law, however, does not include foods that “may contain” an allergen. It is only included if the food is part of the ingredients list. Read more about that in #3 below.

2. Know what to look for on the label

The ways that manufacturers list any of the eight major allergens is not always obvious or consistent. For instance, they can specifically call out the allergen underneath the ingredients list with a statement: “Contains wheat.” Or, if flour is the listed ingredient, it could call out the allergen by putting “wheat” in parenthesis like this: Flour (wheat). The allergen can also be bolded within the ingredients list. Again, this means that the allergen is present in the food.

3. Recognize that “trace” foods are not required to be listed

Manufacturers are not required to list the presence of an unintended allergen, or “trace” allergens. We also call this precautionary allergen labeling. This means that cross-contamination could have occurred during the manufacturing process. This would include using shared equipment of an allergen or within close proximity to an allergen during the manufacturing process. Terms you may see on a label that identify this could include: “may contain”, “might contain”, “may contain traces”, “ may be present”, “produced in a factory with”, “produced on the same line”, “manufactured on shared equipment with”, “packaged in a shared facility with,” etc.

These terms are not required and a manufacturer can choose whether or not to include this labeling.

4. Know where to look for precautionary allergen labeling

Often the precautionary allergen labeling is under the ingredient list. However, it could be located anywhere on the package. Be sure to read the entire package to make sure that you don’t miss it. Sometimes it’s on the opposite side of the ingredients list. Sometimes it’s below the ingredients list, but underneath some other type of marketing wording.

5. Realize that manufacturers can change their process at any time

Because manufacturers can change their production processes at any time, it’s important to read food labels every single time kids eat something. Parents and caregivers need to do this even for known and trusted foods they’ve been eating for years. This may sound exhausting, and it is, but it will get easier with time as you make it part of your routine.  

6. Be aware that allergens can have different names

Further complicating things is that allergens can be referred to by different names. Or they’re called different things when they are a derivative of a particular food. For example, “whey” is the watery part of milk after the formation of curds. “Marzipan” is made of almond meal. However, if a food contains one of the 8 major food allergens, it must be identified under the food allergen labeling and consumer protection act of 2004.

The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) web site is a great resource to learn all of the allergens and their varying names.

If you are concerned about a particular packaged product, know that it is completely acceptable to call the manufacturer and ask about their ingredients and production processes. The risk of cross contamination depends on a lot of different things. For instance, the type of food it is can make a difference. Going directly to the source is sometimes the best way to decide if a food is safe for your child.

Because food allergies are different for every kid, families should be having conversations with their providers about label reading and food avoidance for their particular allergies.

 

If you would like to learn more about the Food Allergy Program at Cincinnati Children’s, please call 513-636-2601 or fill out an online form for more information.

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

Tips For Hosting A Food-Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Meal
Tips For Hosting A Food-Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Meal
Why Your Child Most Likely Does Not Have A Penicillin Allergy
Why Your Child Most Likely Does Not Have A Penicillin Allergy
Amoxicillin Allergy & Amoxicillin Rash Are Often Mislabeled
Amoxicillin Allergy & Amoxicillin Rash Are Often Mislabeled
How to Talk to Party Hosts About Kids’ Nut Allergies
How to Talk to Party Hosts About Kids’ Nut Allergies
TAGS:
  • allergy and immunology
Avatar photo

About the author: Ashley Devonshire, MD, MPH

Ashley Devonshire, MD, MPH is a pediatric allergist in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s. She is new to Cincinnati, having spent the past several years in Chicago. Her clinical and research interests are atopic dermatitis and food allergy, particularly in the infant population.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 2k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.4k views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 848 views
  • 4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup 705 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 651 views
  • What’s the difference between a CAT-Scan and a CT-Scan? 540 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center