Top 8 food allergens, labelling and you
Each year, millions of Americans have allergic reactions to food. Although most food allergies cause relatively mild and minor symptoms, some food allergies can cause severe reactions and may even be life-threatening. The Top 8 most common allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. These foods account for about 90% of all food allergies in the United States and must be declared on any processed food according to the USA food allergen labeling act (FALCPA)1. Additionally, labeling of the Top 8 is mandatory according to EU, Canadian, Japanese and Australian / New Zealand regulations. Allergic consumers may accidentally encounter these foods as several of the Top 8 allergens are often used in processed products and can be "hidden". FALCPA’s labeling requirements do not apply to the potential or unintentional presence of major food allergens in foods resulting
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