For the estimated 15 million Americans with food allergies, avoiding specific allergens can be a complex task. Loopholes in food labeling regulations and hidden allergies in foods and other products only adds to the complexity of staying safe.

Labeling Loopholes

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) went into effect in 2006. FALCPA requires food labels to clearly identify when a food contains any of the eight most common food allergens in the United States. These allergens include:
If a food contains one of these allergens, it will be listed in the ingredients section. It also must contain an allergy declaration statement that says something similar to “contains milk, egg, and wheat.” That’s great for people who have one of those allergies, which is an estimated 90 percent of those with food allergies. What about people with allergies to seeds or strawberries, for example? These allergens aren’t covered under FALCPA.
Allergens not included in the top eight list are sometimes included in the ingredients list or they may only be listed as a “seasoning” or “natural flavor.”
If you or someone you love has a food allergy, you may want to brush up on the specifics of FALCPA.

Common Hiding Places

Processed foods and some products, such as cosmetics, can commonly contain certain hidden allergens. Here are some of the common allergens and where they may be hiding.

Milk

Many baked goods contain milk. Other hiding spots include:
  • caramel
  • nougat
  • creamy soups
  • smoothies
  • lunchmeats and hot dogs
  • artificial butter flavoring
  • margarine