anyoneelse fed up with allergy advise on food / drink labels?

[shouldbeelswhere]

Beware Rant alert! I'm fed up with trawling round the supermarkets looking at allergy advice labels! Could not believe it today when I found that the Tesco own Soda Water has "cannot guarantee nut free" on the allergy advice label!!!!!!ahh It drives me mad. At what point in the process of any of these ingredients could it have been in contact with nuts? It has carbonated water, sodium bicarbonate and salt in it. I just ignore it and give it to my child but one day I might come unstuck and there might really be nut traces in some of these products. How can anyone made an informed decision based on this nonsense? Morrisons have just changed their labels to "may contain allergens" - oh that's helpful - Not

[WeeKirkie]

Understand your frustration, so sick of reading may contain nuts when all the ingredients should have naturally been kept well away from nuts! Not even close! If your machinery has dealt with nuts in the past then wash them! Then nowhere near nuts should be the ingredients! Sorry you feel so angry with this but you are not alone, my kid keeps going through phases of being very allergic to things and cant wrap my head around it most of the time. Was allergic to milk for his first year and found myself so angry with wotsits because they are now made with REAL cheese! Please go back to the artificial crap you had before because then my son could have ate crisps that are normal! Getting pestered by the health visitor, he should really be eating the same as you for dinner by now! Really! Well I hate to disagree but since we are not on a dairy free, gluten free and nut free diet I dont really see this happening soon? See your not the only one that can rant lol!

[shouldbeelswhere]

Oh my goodness, you poor thing. That sounds even more of a nightmare. Couldn't believe your HV comments! They really have no idea do they? Can you believe that when I sent Tesco an email re the soda water they actually phoned me to confirm that it may not be nut free! He said it with a very straight face (on the phone so couldn't actually see but you get my drift). Unfortunately he spoke to the answer phone otherwise I would have loved to tell him exactly the points you made! I've drafted a letter to Morrisons let's see where that gets us :)

[trixymalixy]

They just want to cover their backs rather than give useful information. I usually ignore the may contain advice, but DS reacted to some chocolate recently that had nothing listed that he is allergic to, apart from the usual may contain milk and nuts warning

[freefrommum]

I think everyone on here feels pretty much the same as you shouldbeelsewhere! It's a massive cop-out and soooo annoying. We live in a society that is so scared of litigation that we can't turn around without another disclaimer (or a**e covering)! Have to say that I do quite often ignore the 'may contain milk' warnings (eg on Ready Brek) because it's just so difficult to find food that is completely free from milk, wheat, eggs and nuts but I know that I'm taking a risk and do worry that one day I'll regret it :( Would hate to make my son ill because I ignored a 'may contain' warning but wish I knew what the real risk was!

[harverina]

Glad that others feel the same, I was going to start a thread about this. It amazing what products "may contain". I was eating McCoys ready salted and they "may contain milk". My DD has a CMP and egg allergy and while at 15 months she wouldnt ever be eating a packet of McCoys, it would be nice to let her try things from time to time when she points at the packet!!! I cant believe that the soda water "may contain nuts"!!! Thats truly ridiculous! The big supermarkets need to get a grip! So, I feel your pain OP.

[flamingtoaster]

In the past I used to contact manufacturers asking what the risk level actually was re specific "May contain" warnings. In general I got one of two replies:

1. It is because it is made on non-dedicated machinery and although it is cleaned thoroughly there is a theoretical risk that a trace of the allergen could remain.
   

1. It is because the supplier of one of the ingredients cannot guarantee that his product is allergen free.
   

I only use a very limited number of "may contain" products and these are from the "cleaned thoroughly but theoretical risk" category.

[harverina]

FLAMING, how do you know what category they come under?

Yes alot of crisps that you woudnt expect milk to be in have milk! Walkers sweet chilli have milk in them. What a joke...

But its the "may contain" warnings when the allergen isnt actually listed in the ingredients that are the problem. Soda water should not contain milk!

[mum2twoloudbabies]

they are very frustrating (and Walkers crisps seem to now all contain milk). I recently tried eating in Sainsburys cafe and they have a sign on their menu saying that none of their food is suitable for allergy sufferers (or words to that effect) which bugged the hell out of me especially as they have such a fantastic and expansive range of freefrom products in our local store they should be better than that. a*e covering taken to the far end of a f*t.

[harverina]

mum2 that is a total cop out isn't it and ur so right...I think sainsburys offer the best free from selection so they need to make more effort in their cafe. I'm getting so annoyed!

[flamingtoaster]

harverina if you want to use a product write to the manufacturer and ask why it says "may contain" - they will then usually tell you the reason.

[harverina]

Thanks flaming, I will do that. Up until now we have completely avoided "may contains" but would be good to have a few more options!