We have a BIG Problem with 'May Contain' Labels

Did you know that 'may contain' labels aren't a legal requirement?

Here's a quick guide to help you understand what 'may contain' food labels actually mean:

⚠️THE ‘MAY CONTAIN’ LABEL

What’s different about this label is that ‘may contain’ labelling isn’t required by law - it’s a voluntary label added by food manufacturers.

This lack of regulation explains why we often see jars of peanut butter with the label ‘may contain nuts’ on it. It’s not a joke - manufacturers add 'blanket statements' to protect themselves in case someone has an allergic reaction to one of their products.

❓WHAT DOES ‘MAY CONTAIN’ MEAN?

The label simply means that while the labelled product isn’t supposed to contain allergen(s) the manufacturer is saying they can’t be sure it doesn’t. They can’t be sure there hasn’t been cross-contact with allergens during its preparation. Foods with 'may contain' labels might not contain any allergens at all, but there is also a chance they might. It's therefore best to take this label seriously.

It's very possible to come into contact with a food product with ‘may contain’ of an allergen and not experienced an allergic reaction. However, it's also possible you could buy the same product again and in this instance, have an allergic reaction. It's therefore best to try to avoid products with these labels.

Credit: CouponSnake | https://couponsnake.com/

THE DANGERS OF ‘MAY CONTAIN’ LABELS 🚨

Due to the mass-labelling of ‘may contain’ labels and a lack of regulation and consistency, they can be incredibly frustrating for people with food allergies.

Policymakers are currently urgently calling for more consistency with 'may contain' warnings to better inform and protect people with food allergies. Clear and transparent ingredient information is vital to give them the opportunity to make safe food choices but 'blanket may contain labelling' is lazy and extremely disheartening for people already struggling to buy 'safe' foods for themselves or their families.

What has been your experience of 'may contain' labelling?

Source: The Grocer