Page 31 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

that they are also tree nut free. This is because they can scientifically test for the presence of peanuts in the products and on the processing equipment but cannot scientifically test for all of the tree nuts. A product can indicate that it is peanut free but also indicate that it “may contain” tree nuts or it might say that it contains tree nuts. This may seem confusing but technically it is correct as the product does not have peanuts. So it is important not to rely only on the “free from” symbol on the front of a package make sure you also read/check the ingredient list carefully.
What would you say? (Q&A)
Caitlin F, Katelyn, Michelle
Have you ever had a reaction because you missed an ingredient?
Caitlin - Yes, one time I had bought a package of curry mix that had “cream” as an ingredient. In retrospect, I could not believe it slipped past me when I was scanning the ingredients. However, I think I was just so focused on scanning for the usual words - milk, eggs, nuts, or peanuts.
Katelyn - I have never missed an ingredient or had a reaction because of it. I always make sure I read the labels of products I choose to consume. Recently, I have started calling the companies of products to inquire if there is any possibility of cross-contamination on their production lines.
Michelle - A long time ago, on Halloween, I was reading ingredients too fast because I was excited. I missed the clearly printed ingredient: peanuts. When I first took a bite, I realized that the chocolate seemed different and immediately stopped mid-bite. I spit out the treat, washed my mouth out, brushed my teeth, and told my mom. Thankfully, I had only touched the chocolate of the treat not the filling. So I didn’t have a reaction. I was really lucky and, ever since then, I have always been really careful to read labels and even check with the company directly if I’m ever unsure.
Do you eat products labeled “may contain”?
Caitlin - I have had products that were labeled “may contain” before and have luckily never had a
reaction.
Katelyn - I have eaten products labeled “may contain” in the past. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to not have a reaction. Gaining more knowledge about my allergies has given me a better grasp on risk analysis in certain situations. And I have come to the conclusion that it is simply not worth taking a risk with products I am unsure of. This doesn’t mean that you have to deprive yourself! There are many companies that make products similar that adhere to allergy-safe standards. These companies are more than willing to provide you with all the information you need to make a logical decision.
Kyle – At one point I did. Once I had a severe reaction to a product labelled “may contain” and I will never touch them again.