The truth behind ‘may contain’ labels

Leading allergy experts Steve Taylor and Scott Sicherer and their colleagues have recently studied the levels of allergens found in products that bear ‘may contain’ allergen labelling. Their findings are reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The following is adapted from a summary provided on the AAAAI website.

The team looked at the frequency and level of cross contact allergens present in a large sample of products featuring precautionary labelling in relation to egg, milk, and peanut. They also sought to determine the differences in the contamination risks between large and small manufacturers and the frequency and level of contamination in products that did not have precautionary labelling but were similar in type to those that did have such labels.

A number of non-perishable food products featuring precautionary labelling for allergens of interest were purchased from supermarkets in New York and New Jersey. Similar products without such labelling were also included in the sample. The sample comprised eight product categories, including baking mixes, chocolate candies, non-chocolate candies, cookies, salty snacks, cold cereals, pastas and pancake mixes.

Testing for the three allergens was conducted and detectable residues were found in 5.3% of those products with precautionary labels and in 1.9% of similar products that did not have such labels. Products made by small companies were more often found to contain allergens, with 5.1% of this sample group testing positive, compared with 0.7% of products produced by large companies.

Based on current knowledge, the levels of egg and milk detected in the products without precautionary labels were said to range from those unlikely to cause allergy symptoms to ones that could trigger symptoms for very sensitive persons, particularly for milk.

The researchers consider their findings reveal a very real risk for allergic consumers and they urge this group to avoid products bearing precautionary statements. They also recommend caution in relation to products in higher risk categories that have no precautionary labels, especially if they have been produced by small companies. The study results also highlight the importance of increasing awareness among manufacturers, particularly smaller companies, of the need for appropriate labelling that accurately informs consumers of the risk of allergens being present and to take steps to further reduce such contamination.

Reference: Ford et al. 2010. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.05.034