Food labels: to read or not to read?
August 19, 2009
Product information for allergy suffers must be improved because of the restrictions posed on their diets.
Reading food labels is a habit which needs to be introduced at an early age. Food labels are a tool for finding out about the ingredients of a product, its nutritious content and storage instructions.
Manufacturers sometimes add warnings when allergens may have been present during preparation and handling. For example, notices such as 'may contain traces of nuts' or 'this product contains traces of peanuts due to shared equipment' are often found on food product labels. Manufacturers must not abuse of such warnings. They should only be used when there is real possibility of contamination by allergens.
Thankfully, some companies can guarantee that their products are 100 percent allergen free, and display this information with logos and other means on their packaging.
But there are stil important problems with the labels. As many allergens exist and are commonly mixed with other ingredients, consumers must struggle with incomplete information or information presented in an inconsistent manner. Even though food allergies affect a small percentage of the population, manufacturers need to rethink the use of information logos on packaging.
Standardized "allergen free" logos would be helpful in allowing consumers to quickly recognize the absence of allergens and help them make safe choices. Even allergic children could rely on safe choice logos. Presently, they may recognize the logos of their favourite brands, but it is still necessary to read the ingredient list and check for warnings at every purchase because manufacturers can change their recipes, processes and manufacturing locations at will.
The food industry has yet to adopt such a mesure. It may cost something, but the industry could benefit from more clientele, positive publicity due to concern public health and a reduction in complaints.
Will government regulation be required to force manufacturers to issue clear information presented in a consistent manner on food products?