To warn those with a peanut allergy?

[Chocnuts]

Aibu to warn those with a peanut allergy to watch out for anything with soya lethicin/ lethicin in general in it, not to eat it for the time being?

I work in the food industry, investigations ongoing but looks like a contamination of peanut oil further back in the supply chain hasn't been picked up.Lots of manufacturers now awaiting test results/ doing calculations to see if the levels they've used leaves a big enough trace by the time it gets to the end product. Lots of products are already on the shelf with this contaminated soya lethicin in it.

Usually used in ice cream/chocolate but can be in lots of other things.

Bloody hell.
Has this been announced officially or are they sitting on it until they get the test results?

The main supplier is American and shrugging it's shoulders. Food standards are looking into it but no recalls have been ordered yet.

That seems hugely irresponsible of them given peanut allergy can be fatal!

This is the official notification:

webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/544197

The shortage of sunflower oil from Ukraine is meaning that food producers are subbing alternative oils and derivatives and are not, as yet, required to alert consumers to the change on packaging.

This is a massive concern to all of us with severe allergies.

I think people should be warned at least to avoid until they have more info!

This poor boy died recently because he wasn’t notify change of ingredients on something he usually ordered.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10794227/amp/Graduate-23-peanut-allergy-died-taking-two-bites-pizza-ordered-Deliveroo.html

I'm shocked at the low safety standards, soya lecithin is a really common ingredient.

Ah that would explain my DS’s anaphylaxis after eating a previously safe food. 🤦‍♀️

That's awful. It should be made public immediately.
My DS carries an epi-pen. Thankfully he's OK with peanuts.

Thats so worrying! How irresponsible of them to not put some kind of notification whilst they await results!

Soya lethicin doesn't normally cause a risk so yes it's being subbed in where other ingredients aren't available because of Brexit/Ukraine related supply issues.

The FSA seems to think (so far) because it's usually a minor ingredient, the parts per million won't be a risk to the majority of people with allergies...but it's still a big risk and manufacturers have been using this without knowledge, so sites that are usually nut free and declare that on the packaging are now contaminated, meaning possible secondary contamination into other products too.

Thank you. My daughter has a suspected peanut allergy (not had the allergy tests yet - long wait). I find it terrifying to be honest.

Thank you for sharing this information. My young DS is severely allergic to peanuts. I will be triple checking for this ingredient now.

Wow, how absolutely awful. I wonder if this thread can be pinned for more people to see it?

God this is awful, my toddler has a life threatening peanut allergy and this is the first I've heard of this.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Wow the public need to be made aware of this asap.

Wow, thank you very much for this. My 5yo has a number of very serious food allergies, peanut being one of them. Absolutely terrifying.

Is there any idea of timeframe OP? Eg. How far back food could have been contaminated and when it should be safe again?

This needs to be in the news

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/2022/05/03/update-from-the-food-standards-agency-on-the-use-of-fully-refined-oils-as-ingredient-substitutions/

This will hopefully reassure everyone on this thread?

Thanks @crosbystillsandmash the issue is that one of these usually safe substitutions has been contaminated without the full knock on effect being known. Normally soya lethicin would be fine, but there's a significant amount in the food chain that does now contain peanut oil.

@FolkloreEvermore I can only say what I know from our experience, but so far it's as far back as December, which means Jan onwards into the shops. They are still awaiting lab results for the batch we received in Jan/Feb!

With known allergens we have calculations on all ingredients and "allowed" levels which then dictates what claims can be made on labels, and strict process on site to ensure no cross contamination etc, but this contamination in the raw ingredient has been identified months later and the extent of it is still unknown... it's a worry.

This is frightening, my teen ds has peanut allergy and I always rely on this particular charity for news!
So are you advising those with peanut allergy avoid soya lectins for the time being?

Are you contacting news agencies as well? My son’s friend has a peanut allergy but I don’t think his mum will believe this when I say I read it on Mumsnet.

Agreed. I told DP not to give DS any foods containing soya lethicins, and I was met with a 'oh, if it's on Mumsnet, it must be true' sarcastic reaction.

I might be downplaying or misunderstanding, but if it’s potentially been in food for over three months, and there haven’t been stories of unusual reactions, is it likely it’s not a risk, on balance? Or am I being extremely naive?
and presumably new products are no longer using the contaminated ingredients?