Talking Allergies

Gwen, Susan,
Do you have any inside info about this? I receive the newsletter stating that the proposed changes will only be happening in Spring 2010. Do you think it is a good thing? Will it allow things to be better thought out and to address that darn "may contain" issue that everyone wants addressed? Or is it another unnecessary stall?

I feel everyone worked so hard to see this thing get passed, it is quite discouraging to see them already break their promise of having it passed this year...

It sure moves slowly but Health Canada has released a report regarding the over 140 comments submitted for the proposed amendments on Enhanced Labelling for Food Allergens. 60 of which were e-mails from consumers!

The comment period is now closed and the comments will be considered by Health Canada.

The report can be viewed here:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/label-etiq ... xa-eng.php

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

I share your disappointment in the slowness. But don't think it's a stall. I think the problem is that the consultation process took a really long time and now so does the review of all the input.

The 12 months to let industry get rid of existing stock is fairly standard and I'm told a lot of companies will be moving ahead more quickly with the changes.

But all that said, it is frustrating ... I know there's a lot of technicality to these rules. I appreciate that in the U.S. there have been difficulties to resolve because they may have pushed ahead too quickly with their legislation.

But I do find in this country - land of the inquiry and royal commission - decision-making can move at a snail's pace. Meantime, many of us are having grocery choices restricted - or even having reactions.
I had a minor reaction (pretty sick for a day) not long ago to something a relative made a dish with a product that used "natural flavours". She was quite upset to learn that could have been partially hydrolyzed soy. She wanted to know - why didn't it just say that. Good question.

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Allergic to soy, peanut, shellfish, penicillin

Perhaps if manufacturers knew how many of us avoid items because we simply don't know....

How often have you said, "I can eat that?!"

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

Ok. I guess it's a good thing in the long run. Meanwhile, every time I call a company about and they say they have begun the "must put the top ten" labelling process I make sure to commend them and thank them...they are always really touched and pleased to hear that what they do makes an impact.

Can't count the times! I agree that manufacturers have to be made aware of these issues and I have the feeling that things are getting better and better.
Let's just stay positive!

Does this mean that labels will have to have the clear CONTAINS: allergen info... or that they just have to put it on the label itself. I'm getting confused thinking that I may not be reading the labels correctly.

But we do call companies that do not say "May Contain" to see if they label for that.

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me: allergic to crustaceans plus environmental
teenager: allergic to hazelnuts, some other foods and environmental

Walooet, plain language of ingredients labelling and cautionary labelling are two separate issues as far as I can tell.

Also, just because a company labels may contain for one ingredient, it doesn't mean that they test and disclose for all 8 allergens! So it may appear that a product is safe (ingredients does not conatin your allergens and cautionary label lists allergens that you are not avoiding) it can still be cross contaminated with your allergen.

This was a recent experience for a member of my local allergy support group. You can only be certain of what you read...you can not assume anything.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

Wow... we were under the naivete that they did label for all if it had May Contain. We actually use so few brands now and have personally spoken with people from the smaller companies.

Thank you very much for clarifying Susan. I had been reading so much that my eyes were spinning.

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me: allergic to crustaceans plus environmental
teenager: allergic to hazelnuts, some other foods and environmental