A recent survey showed that a big majority of Americans (about 80%) read food labels when shopping. They buy the stuff anyway, even if the food labels show they're not exactly the most healthy. But at least, they read the labels.

For people with allergies, this is crucial. I personally take the "May contain traces of..." phrase very seriously. However, it does get frustrating to see how limited one's choices become, as so many products bear this warning. May? Traces? How much risk do I run if I buy the product anyway?

UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) recognize this predicament, too, and has now issued a revised Allergen Management and Advisory Labelling Guidance to food businesses to help them assess the actual risk. Only after a thorough assessment showing a significant risk of allergen cross-contamination will advisory labelling be used. In other words, no warnings will be indicated on the labels, unless there really is a possibility that the product contains traces or contaminants from common food allergens.

For more details, two documents are available for download from the FSA (pdf files):

• Guidance on allergen management and consumer information
• Regulatory Impact Assessment

[Photo: BBC]