Anaphylaxis in Schools 3rd Edition
Anaphylaxis in Schools 3rd Edition
Anaphylaxis in Schools 3rd Edition
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Appendix G<br />
Foods with “May Conta<strong>in</strong>” Warn<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
Products with a ‘may conta<strong>in</strong>’ warn<strong>in</strong>g could be problematic for <strong>in</strong>dividuals with life-threaten<strong>in</strong>g<br />
food allergies if <strong>in</strong>gested. Individuals with food allergy should not eat products which have a ‘may<br />
conta<strong>in</strong>’ warn<strong>in</strong>g with respect to their allergen(s). However, foods with a precautionary warn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
should not be an issue if consumed by non-allergic children <strong>in</strong> the presence of older children with food<br />
allergies. Regular hand wash<strong>in</strong>g, cleans<strong>in</strong>g of surfaces, and adult supervision of young children while<br />
eat<strong>in</strong>g are still advised as a precautionary measure. (Note: Precautionary labels such as ‘may conta<strong>in</strong>’<br />
are put on by food manufacturers at their own discretion.)<br />
Read<strong>in</strong>g Food Labels<br />
While it is the responsibility of allergic consumers to always read food labels, confusion can be created<br />
by strong brand awareness and unfamiliarity with food labell<strong>in</strong>g regulations. Here are some examples<br />
which consumers need to be aware of:<br />
• Some popular brands which are widely recognized as be<strong>in</strong>g safe for allergic consumers may be used<br />
<strong>in</strong> other products which may conta<strong>in</strong> peanut/nuts (e.g. peanut-free chocolate <strong>in</strong> ice cream which<br />
has a ‘may conta<strong>in</strong>’ warn<strong>in</strong>g).<br />
• An allergen-free claim on certa<strong>in</strong> products may be specific to only one size or format of the brand,<br />
not to all products us<strong>in</strong>g the same brand name. In some cases, the brand name has been used <strong>in</strong><br />
new products which conta<strong>in</strong> the allergen.<br />
• Product formulations (recipes) may change and <strong>in</strong>gredients of a particular brand may not be the<br />
same <strong>in</strong> all formats or all sizes. For example, a regular size candy bar may be considered to be free<br />
of an allergen such as peanut; however, the snack size version could have a ‘may conta<strong>in</strong> peanuts’<br />
warn<strong>in</strong>g. This could be due to the risk of cross-contam<strong>in</strong>ation if the product is run on the same<br />
equipment as products which conta<strong>in</strong> peanut. Products may also be produced <strong>in</strong> a different format<br />
or <strong>in</strong> a different production factory.<br />
• Food labell<strong>in</strong>g standards <strong>in</strong> other countries may not be the same as Canada’s. Imported products<br />
may pose a risk to allergic consumers. Researchers found that 62% of imported chocolate bars from<br />
Eastern Europe without a precautionary label actually conta<strong>in</strong>ed detectable levels of peanut prote<strong>in</strong>. 8<br />
Food-allergic <strong>in</strong>dividuals and those who buy on their behalf must read food <strong>in</strong>gredient labels<br />
every time they purchase a product, as product <strong>in</strong>gredients and labell<strong>in</strong>g may change.<br />
Food-allergic consumers are encouraged to read food <strong>in</strong>gredient labels three times: once when<br />
purchas<strong>in</strong>g an item, a second time when putt<strong>in</strong>g the product away, and a third time just before serv<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Clean<strong>in</strong>g Surfaces<br />
A U.S. study suggests that liquid or bar soap and antibacterial wipes can effectively remove peanut<br />
butter residue from hands. However, anti-bacterial hand sanitizers and water alone are not as<br />
46<br />
<strong>Anaphylaxis</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Schools</strong> & Other Sett<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
Copyright © 2005-2014 Canadian Society of Allergy and Cl<strong>in</strong>ical Immunology