Beware, some countries don’t label their ingredients! That is the case for a product I was recently gifted by a friend. Friends mean well but they sometimes forget that you may have an allergy.
That is what happened to the product I received. Thank goodness I routinely check labels on any new product I buy or am given. I noticed that the product didn’t have any ingredients listed on the label at all. It was a product of the Dominican Republic. What it did have was the nutrition facts with the percentages. What was missing was the actual ingredients it was made with. Also missing was the number of calories the product contained. I surfed the web and found out that the Cassava Bread made by Madame Gougousse does use the whole egg and a lot of it. Had I eaten it, I might not be here today to write this article. This made me think in a new direction. I wondered why it wasn’t listed, and how did it make it through the FDA inspection as an import.
Why Doesn’t FDA Require Foreign Manufacturers to Comply
The FDA inspects for evidence of misbranding. Unfortunately, with their limited resources, there are not enough inspectors to adequately do the job. They are only inspecting around 1% of the food that comes in. There are more than approximately 60 million tons of food under their regulation and authority from imports to the United States every year that need an inspection. The result of this is to target the companies and products that are prone to greater risk. The inspector upon identifying the violation for a high-risk product is subject to refuse the shipment into the United States. Here’s a thought, they need more inspectors. If you need a job check to see if they are hiring. LOL
What Happens if Products Are Misbranded Under the Law
When a misbranded food product is found they have 3 choices. The product can be detained, seized, or refused entry to the U.S.A. That is not good for the importers of the food. It can mean a loss of a lot of money. As the United States can impose hourly fines for the manufacturer to correct the problem. I did find out from the web that there are companies here in the US that help manufacturers of other countries by printing new labels with their ingredients, so the shipment doesn’t have to be sent back. Of course, this service isn’t free.
What Does the FALCPA of the FDA do
FALCPA (Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act) is a United States law concerning food labels in relation to food allergens. The nine high-risk ingredients are eggs, crustacean shellfish, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, soy, and sesame seeds. I did find out that according to the FDA, there are approximately 160 allergens. Only these nine mentioned are considered high risk. That is why it is so important that you check these labels for your own health risk. An example is strawberries. Some people are allergic to strawberries but it isn’t on the list.
How Does FALCPA Address the Packaging Issue
They Impose labeling requirements. These are for both the retail and food service industries and establishments. They cover the packaging and labeling concerns of products for the consumption of humans. Please note that the advisory statements are not covered by the law. They basically are a statement the manufacturers decided to use to help avoid the possibility of liability and having to change their cross-contamination processes. The cost of changing a production line to incorporate new procedures and equipment is not cheap. That is why when I see a statement on the package that says “may contain eggs (allergen) or it is shown “produced in a facility that also uses eggs [allergen]. I avoid it like the plague. This doesn’t apply to point-of-purchase foods wrapped in a wrapper or container like a box for sandwiches. Natasha’s Law in Europe addresses this. The US doesn’t. In Europe at a deli for instance the consumer points at a product they want. This product has a label that shows all ingredients thanks to Natahsa’s Law. Here in the United States, You see the name of the products and the price per pound as in lunch meat.
FDA monitors the food supply for other allergens
FDA monitors if food ingredients or additives pose health risks. If a significant health risk is found, they are to take appropriate action. Labeling concerns are a big part of what they try to fix. This is done by requiring adequate food and packaging labeling information, or by enforcing a manufacturer to make changes to the packaging and even to the product itself if it is reported and the health risks warrant that action. I have a link on the resources page so you can report a product that you need to claim as an incident.
An example is Gluten, there are requirements for additives that the labels must reflect for these: carmine, sulfites, and yellow 5.
The law requires the food source name of all manufactured food allergens that are used to make the food to be listed. A prime example is in the case of buttermilk. They will list milk on the label, not buttermilk. That is because the source of the buttermilk comes from milk. Unfortunately, it’s still gibberish when it comes to the food stabilizers, preservatives, and emulsifiers to know what they are derived from unless you look it up and any adverse side effects. Here is a good example. The ice cream my husband eats shows the ingredients: Milkfat and nonfat milk, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, whey, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), mono and diglycerides, locust bean gum, guar gum, calcium sulfate, polysorbate 80, carrageenan, dipotassium phosphate, and sodium citrate. As a consumer, you see the front label is ice cream and I say YIKES! Calcium Sulfate is derived from eggs. It is one of the reasons why I can’t eat this ice cream. Why isn’t this listed on the label as there is no warning that the additive is from eggs? The other reason is carrageenan is a proven carcinogen.
Break this down
- Mono & Diglycerides = fatty acids used as an emulsifier and fruit coating agent. (FDA says safe)] I looked it up they are from plant oils like soybean, grapeseed, canola, sunflower, cottonseed, coconut, and palm oils.
- Calcium sulfate = Yikes prepared from the chemical reaction between calcium carbonate from duck eggshells and sulfuric acid. Not egg safe.
- Polysorbate 80 is a foaming agent and emulsifier in foods. Ice cream can add up to 0.5 % concentration to make the ice cream smoother and resist melting. It is derived from sorbitol dehydration and is a sugar alcohol. It is found in animal and vegetable fats. Sounds safe from Egg to me.
- Dipotassium Phosphate is made from phosphate rocks which are mined and refined and purified. This is a pH control agent in milk products as a nutrient supplement and is an emulsifier. It also extends the shelf life. The manufacturers use this agent to stabilize and thicken the product. It is a malting and fermentation aid. Don’t know how they came up with this one. “Let them eat rocks” LOL. I guess there are worse things in life.
- Sodium Citrate is made by neutralizing citric acid with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate and is found in the gelatin mix, ice creams, jams, sweets, milk powder, processed cheeses carbonated beverages, and wine as an emulsifier for oils in cheese making process. This is good for you as it treats high acid levels in your body. Sodium citrate is known to help prevent gout or kidney stones and fights against high uric acid levels by decreasing the acid that your body makes.
- Locust bean gum is derived or carob gum from the seed endosperm of a carob tree. This is an additive in food and cosmetics and paper goods. This is safe and is beneficial to fight health problems like heart disease, diabetes, bowel movements, and colon cancer due to dietary fiber. This is a good additive.
- Guar gum – is a safe additive that thickens and stabilizes food products. It has some good health benefits too. For instance, helps digestion and weight maintenance. There are some good benefits to controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Guar gum comes from the seeds of a plant called Cyamopsis tetragonal. Also known as the Guar plant. This normalizes the moisture content of stools so you could go to the bathroom without a problem. It should not make you have diarrhea and helps decrease cholesterol and sugar that is absorbed in your stomach. This is a plant food and not an egg derivative.
- Carrageenan is an extract from seaweed. Seaweed can affect the human digestive system. The European Union limits the product for use in baby food. Degraded carrageenan is proven to be a carcinogen. (cancer-causing substance) It is in a lot of processed foods too.
How Manufacturers List a Food Source Allergen on a Label
The name of the food source must be listed for a major food allergen. They can list it in two different ways. When checking the label everything in bold has to do with a risk factor for someone.
- The name of the ingredient can be put in parentheses. “Lecithin” (soy), “Flour” (wheat), “Whey” (milk)
- Immediately after or next to the actual list of ingredients in a statement. For example, this one is on a box of cereal. CONTAINS WHEAT INGREDIENTS or this one is on the grits box at my house. CONTAINS MILK AND SOY INGREDIENTS.
What Is GRAS per the FDA
GRAS is listed on some products. It means, “Generally Recognized as Safe. Per the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, any substance that is added to food is considered a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by the FDA”. It would still be wise to glance at the ingredients just in case your allergy is not considered a high-risk concern of theirs. In other words, don’t assume GRAS is safe for everyone. The FDA updates its GRAS notices monthly.
The FDA groups the high risk as life-threatening. They are allergens that are mediated by immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE). Anaphylaxis is triggered by IgE-mediated food allergic reactions which can be fatal.
Immune-mediated mechanisms that are not IgE-mediated are still problematic. Immune-mediated is a group of conditions that are abnormal activity in the body. It is recognized by the immune system. Then the immune system overreacts to the condition. It starts reacting, for example, by displaying an inflammatory response or other response. These mechanisms are sometimes associated with celiac disease and contact dermatitis or lactose intolerance. Mechanisms like Lactose intolerance are not immune-mediated.
FDA Required Information to Report a Product
The information needed includes the following:
- Names, addresses, and phone numbers of the affected and the person reporting the product
- Location and address of where and when it was purchased
- Description of any reactions and conditions of the symptoms experienced
- The date reaction started and the date stopped.
- How long after consumption of the product did you notice the reaction
- List any medications taken to treat the reaction
- If a doctor or hospital visit is required, all pertinent information needs to be listed. (Doctor’s name and address, date of the visit, and diagnosis with a list of any medications)
- For the Product that caused the reaction a picture of the product label and ingredient statement is required. Also, the Lot number any codes along with, the UPC code
- Due to Biphasic reactions (a two-phase anaphylactic reaction where there is a second anaphylactic event returning from the same exposure) all information on if this occurrence should be required.
FDA Contact US Food and Drug Administration at 1-888-463-6332 if you have any unresolved issues.
It is important to note that there were no warning labels on the Cassava Bread and there was no egg allergy warning on the label for the ice cream. I love ice cream but not enough to die for it.
