Allergy warning symbol for foods mooted

Allergy specialists from Imperial College, UK, have recommended the use of a common symbol to indicate the presence of individual allergens in food and personal care products. The suggestion came following a survey amongst patients of children with nut allergies about how allergen wording affected their buying decisions.

In press releases accompanying the publication of the survey findings, the allergy specialists have reported that in multi-ethnic populations and where parents are unable to read English, the current requirements for providing allergen advisory statements are not adequate. They believe a common, universal symbol, to be shown to the patients and their families when attending an allergy clinic, would remove language barriers and difficulty in understanding ingredients. It would also reduce shopping time and increase the safety of allergic individuals.

The specialists also believe the use of a common allergy symbol on non-food products that contain nut extracts would also be beneficial for those with food allergy, as this area of risk is poorly recognised.

The Allergen Bureau reported on the survey findings in the July issue of eNews.

Reference: Noimark et al. 2009, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Vol. 20pp 500-504

Source: Food Navigator.com