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.
Related Websites -
Are You Eating Enough of These 9 Diet Foods? Diets get boring, spice it up with these 9 foods Anyone who has been on a diet has probably dealt with the usual evils that come with the territory. Feeling hungry and deprived, eating tasteless, unsatisfying foods and craving the savory goodies you usually indulge in, and sometimes even binges....... -
Meat recall exec admits cattle were illegally slaughtered Today, Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. President Steve Mendell finally admitted that cattle were illegally slaughtered at his plant and that cows too sick to stand were forced into the food supply. Mendell had originally maintained in a written statement to a congressional committee investigating the largest meat recall scandal in U.S....... - Nudibranchs The wild reefs are home to some pretty weird creatures and some of these creatures can be really attractive. The nudibranchs fall into this category, to me anyway. On the wild reef many creatures have a niche for the supply of food. Some fish will just cruise along devouring their......
- Is Your Sunscreen Making You Sick Instead Of Protecting You? It may be. Did you know that the Food and Drug Administrationâs 2007 sunscreen safety regulations say that the âFDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancerâ? Me neither! While every major public health agency still advises people to use sunscreen, there is......
-
When Diet Food Is Actually Bad For You When you first get on a diet, especially one that is calorie restricted, you’ll find that you are pretty limited when it comes to food choices. For many, it’s simply easier to take advantage of prepackaged meals. While these are expensive, there is a lot to be said for convenience,......
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
