Apr 14 2008
FDA Recalls and Food Allergies: What You Need to Know
From Salmonella spinach to angry beef, it seems we’re no stranger to food recalls these days.
Sometimes foods aren’t even tainted with bacteria, but rather contain undisclosed ingredients, which can be just as harmful, if not more so.
Dangerous Allergies
For those who are allergic to certain food ingredients, following ingestion of a food allergen, they can experience serious physical symptoms that can result in death.
In fact, each year in the U.S., it is estimated that anaphylaxis (allegries) to food(s) results in 30,000 emergency room visits, 2,000 hospitalizations and 150 deaths.
Recent Recalls
Just last month, two major food companies had to recall products due to mislabeling / undisclosed allergens.
The first, “America’s Choice® Classic Caesar Dressing”, made by Bay Valley Foods, included undeclared fish, soy and wheat. Apparently some of the bottles produced in February 2008 had an incorrect ingredient label on the back of the bottle (the label included ingredient and nutrition information for Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing, which did not declare the presence of fish, soy and wheat).
The second product, Bass Pro Shops Uncle Buck’s Light ‘N Krispy Fish Batter Mixes by Williams Foods, Inc., contained undeclared milk.
Eight Common Food Allergies
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the eight most common food allergens, which account for 90 percent of food allergic reactions, are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.
These eight foods, and any ingredient that contains protein derived from one or more of them, are designated as “major food allergens” by law and must be identified on food labels.
For more information or to learn about food recalls, click here.
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