A total of 93% of parents of children with milk allergy cannot correctly identify labels indicating milk on an ingredient statement, and 38 out of 82 parents of children with peanut allergy failed to recognise labels indicating peanut, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI).
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The report, which is based on a survey of 91 parents of children on restricted diets, reported similar difficulties for those avoiding soy.
“This study confirms what we’ve known for quite some time – that ingredient statements are written for scientists and regulators, not for the average consumer,” said Anne Munoz-Furlong, founder and CEO of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), which has long been an advocate for improvements in food allergen labeling, and last year helped to create voluntary labelling guidelines for manufacturers. Of those parents in the study who had perfect scores, 90% were members of FAAN, or had met with a dietitian and previously attended the allergy clinic.
According Dr. Robert Wood, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Pediatric Allergy Clinics, at the John Hopkins University Hospital, and a member of the FAAN medical advisory board, both JACI studies highlight the fact that “issues regarding food manufacturing and labelling continue to be a major source of frustration and, unfortunately, risk for people with food allergies.”
“We need manufacturers to list ingredients in simple, consistent language. Currently, the food industry uses dozens of synonyms for allergens, such as ‘semolina’ to indicate wheat, or ‘caseinate’ to indicate milk. The use of so many different terms for an allergen increases the likelihood that an ingredient statement will be misinterpreted,” Munoz-Furlong said.
The June JACI also contains the results of an FDA study that found the presence of undeclared allergens in food products is a common cause of food-product recall in the US. The FDA has increased its allergen inspections, targeting companies that use common allergens such as peanuts, milk, eggs and tree nuts.
“We’re pleased to see that the FDA is putting the problem on the front burner and we will continue to work in concert with other such governmental agencies,” said Munoz-Furlong, whose organisation also provided input for the Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act, introduced in May.
Food allergy affects an estimated 6 to 7 million Americans, mostly children. Annually, allergic reactions account for 30,000 emergency room visits and between 150 to 200 deaths.
