New Food Labelling Guidelines In Canada Benefit Allergy Sufferers

Food labelling is under scrutiny in Canada and this bodes well for allergy sufferers. Check the labelling on food products and you will find that they often contain the term “may contain” under the list of ingredients used. If you’ve not understood what these mean, you are not the only one.

Many times while reading food labels during my grocery trips, I’ve puzzled over why the word “may” is used. Trying to read labels on packaging is cleary no easy task. Also, wouldn’t this loose word be subject to interpretation by food manufacturers?

Well, Canada is finally doing something. Its health authorities say that the confusion may lead to the statements being ignored and allergy sufferers eating foods that can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions. It also noted that the number of allergy sufferers are on the rise, with a population of 1.2 million patients in its country.

Food manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers are being notified of the proposed changes and are encouraged to use the new terms with immediate effect, even while the review is underway.

I would think that a term like “not suitable for consumption by persons with an allergy to “X”, currently being studied as one of the many options for food labelling, leave little room for doubt. With allergy cases on the rise around the world, it will be great if health authorties in other countries follow suit in issuing similiar guidelines.