– The wording of the warning label does not give an indication as to the risk of the allergen being present. Allergists generally advise avoiding foods with advisory labels containing your allergen.
– The Food and Drug Administration states that advisory labels “should not be used as a substitute for adhering to current good manufacturing practices and must be truthful and not misleading.”
– Because advisory labels are voluntary, there is no guarantee products without these warnings will not contain traces of allergens. If you are ever unsure about a packaged food, call the manufacturer to find out about its food allergy management practices. If company representatives can’t adequately answer your questions, avoid the food.
– Food manufacturers that develop products with allergy concerns in mind are invaluable to consumers with food allergies. Become familiar with them (e.g. you will read about many in Allergic Living magazine). Some will promote right on a label that they produce in a “dedicated facility” without certain allergens – e.g. peanut or milk or wheat.