Beware! Food Allergens WIthin!
The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the FDA is considering changing food labeling for products that may contain allergens such as nuts, wheat, and others. Advocates say that there are just too many ways to say that your favorite candy bar was made in a factory containing nuts or that some products contain eggs or wheat.
How the FDA will propose to make consumers aware of food allergens on packaging remains unclear. It just doesn't seem like words will do it. I'd like to register my recommendations. How about a "no nut zone" symbol to let those with allergies know the foods are safe to eat? Or replacing the skull and crossbones from the poison symbol with the skull and wheat stalks? 
In all seriousness, visual images work better for communicating messages of danger or warning. This could be particularly effective especially for teenagers who are the most likely to suffer fatal food allergies according to the Post. Consistency of language is also important as the advocates suggest--but perhaps the FDA should consider compelling visual images to warn us about what is in our food. But perhaps stronger language to warn those who suffer from allergies is in order: Beware! Warning! Eggs lurk within!
Let's not leave it to those who suffer from serious allergies like that of nuts or eggs to read the fine print. Clear images and strong, universal language ought to do a better job of protecting those vulnerable to food allergens.
Summer Johnson, PhD
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You do make an excellent point with the images verses just words. I do feel for people with food allergies. However, how far do we take our warnings? Do we list every warning until the packaging is twice the size of the product or maybe just add a thumbnail drive for everything that we buy.
- by PharmacistMike on Sep 16, 2008 at 9:08 PM | link
Excellent post! I think not just teenagers but most adults too would find a graphic warning easier to deal with. Mike, you're right we don't need to list everything, but only those, which if missed out could be fatal. I think the risk of anaphylaxis is reason enough include allergy warning.
- by Fred Clay on Sep 17, 2008 at 6:44 AM | link