What's Up With Soy ?

Common Labeling Misconceptions

The following article, entitled "Common Labeling Misconceptions," is hopefully up-to-date information.
Send us any that you have found !

By The Way If Their Deception Has You Good and Mad -

• All ingredients are listed on a label.

Unfortunately, this isn't so. Beginning in 2007, common allergens should appear on a label. However, this does nothing to benefit individuals with allergies other than the "common" eight--most FAST members have indicated they have allergies outside of this sphere, so the new labeling is of little benefit to such individuals. There are still many terms on labels that should be treated with caution. Two of the most common are "natural flavorings" and "spices."

• "May contain" listings on labels are mandatory.

No. These labels are voluntarily put on labels by some (not all) manufacturers. It is totally legal for incidental food ingredients in small amounts to be in other food. To put this into perspective, think about your home kitchen and how easy it is to cross-contaminate something, just by using the same equipment.

Manufacturers may leave out incidental ingredients on the voluntary labeling (for example, it's not likely they would list "corn," as it is not currently deemed a "common" allergen), and also don't need to have this type of labeling on the product at all.

Many food manufacturers don't use "may contain" labeling. A lot of people with food allergies think this means the food doesn't contain any incidental ingredients. That is a mistaken assumption.
In reality, this labeling may often a way for a manufacturer to protect itself from lawsuits, rather than to benefit the consumer.

• Kosher labeling will help me avoid my allergens.

False. Kosher labeling is also voluntary, and really only refers to a few foods, with only one of them being a common allergen.

• What I don't know can't hurt me.

Many people have reported reacting to unlabeled ingredients in foods. ( As I type ths in, my wife is suffering from severe cramps and is in bed due to some undeclared indegrediant ) It's possible to react to minute amounts of allergens, whether we know they're in the food . . . or not.

I am alergic to peanuts, should I avoid other legumes, e.g., peas, beans or soya?

No, not unless you are actually allergic to them as well.

Even though the skin test is positive, if you have been able to tolerate peas, beans and other legumes before, they may be continued, unless you begin to react when you eat them.

In addition to peanut, legumes include peas, beans, Soya, chick peas (garbanzo beans), lentils, split peas, lupin seeds, dahl, tamarind, licorice, carob, soy sprouts, bean sprouts, cassia, alfalfa, fenugreek, tragacanth, acacia and senna.

Most peanut allergic people can eat other legumes even if they have a positive skin test to these other legumes. Because peanuts are related to peas, beans and other legumes, these other legumes may show a mild positive skin test in a peanut allergic person but that person can still eat them.

However, a positive skin test to one of these legumes means that the peanut allergic person does have some chance of developing an allergy to the legume later although if an allergy does develop, it is usually mild. In these cases, the allergy may cause only itchy mouth or throat.

The legumes most likely to cause allergic reactions in peanut allergic people are dried mature legumes e.g., dried peas and dried beans, whereas green peas and green beans are often tolerated. Soy is very unlikely to cause an allergy in peanut allergic people.

If you do away with the milk, the eggs, real cheese, coca butter, then what are you left with, anything real; no, and the taste is not what it once was either which makes little sense!

Terms of Use: The information on this site does not constitute medical advice and is for your general information only. We cannot be held responsible for anything you could possibly do or say because of information on this site. Consult your family physician or allergist for specific questions or concerns