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Halloween May Contain Dangers
Advisory labels on candies present challenges for trick-or-treaters and their parents
FAIRFAX, Va., Oct. 22, 2009 – Pick up a candy bar – there’s a good chance that the label warns it “may” contain peanuts or tree nuts, even though neither of these allergens is an ingredient. With the massive amounts of candy distributed on Halloween, children with food allergies and their parents must be extra vigilant about avoiding allergic reactions.
While food manufacturers must disclose, in plain English, the top eight food allergens (milk, egg, wheat, peanut, tree nut, soy, fish, and shellfish) as the source of ingredients in their products, there are no regulations regarding advisory labeling (i.e. “May Contain”).
“This can make trick-or-treating a difficult experience for families managing food allergies,” said Julia Bradsher, CEO of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. “We must stress that parents should exercise caution on Halloween to safeguard against reactions by examining all of their children’s candy, and reading each label carefully.”
Unfortunately, the increase in the use of advisory labels has had some negative effect. Studies have shown that consumers with food allergies are increasingly ignoring these labels and misunderstanding the risks associated with terms such as “shared equipment,” “shared facility,” or “may contain.”
The use of advisory statements, which is voluntary, is especially popular with manufacturers of chocolate candies, according to a recently published study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study showed 17 percent of products randomly selected in a national supermarket survey had advisory labels, with chocolate candy leading the categories of foods that used these labels. More than 50 percent of the chocolate candy products in the sample were packaged with advisory labels.
FAAN’s Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy is a safe alternative to trick-or-treating for candy. Children can still go door-to-door, collecting coins instead of candy in special bags, and raising funds for food allergy research and education at the same time. This program is sponsored by Abbott Nutrition, makers of EleCare ®.
About FAAN
Founded in 1991, FAAN (The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) is the world leader in information, resources, and programs for food allergy, a potentially life-threatening medical condition that afflicts approximately 12 million Americans, or one out of every 25. A nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., FAAN has approximately 25,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and 58 other countries. It is dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to educating people about the condition, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by it. FAAN provides information and educational resources about food allergy to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. For more information, please visit FAAN at www.foodallergy.org.
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