Food businesses have an obligation to disclose allergen information to customers in a variety of forms for prepacked and loose foods.
The CFIA conducts inspections and testing to ensure major allergens are clearly labeled on products, and works with firms to recall products when necessary and issue public warnings when necessary.
What is an Allergy?
An allergy develops when an individual’s immune system mistakingly attacks substances which are harmless to their body – known as allergens. They could include foods, pollens, medications, bee venom or air pollution; depending on its type and intensity it could produce mild reactions up to life-threatening reactions in their system.
Once exposed to an allergen for the first time, your body may not react. But repeated exposure can build tolerance to it and become hypersensitive; histamine production triggers in your body causes symptoms like runny nose or itchy hives.
Doctors can diagnose allergies through skin prick tests and blood tests. With skin prick tests, your arm will be pricked with small amounts of possible allergens and watched for any signs of inflammation – for instance redness, swelling, itching or hives. Blood tests measure what antibodies your body makes against specific allergens; often used alongside skin prick tests; these can be performed by dermatologists, ear, nose and throat doctors (ENTs) and pulmonologists.
What are the Most Common Allergens?
Food allergies are more often seen when exposed to dairy, soy or egg substitute products, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fin fish or shellfish products. While many children outgrow these allergies by the time they reach school age, egg and milk allergies may persist into adulthood.
Congress in the US passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), to make it easier for people with major food allergens to identify ingredients found in packaged food products. It identified eight major allergens and required that labels include their source name.
FALCPA lists various food allergens as major allergens, including celery, cereals containing gluten (such as wheat, barley, rye and oat), eggs, fish, milk, crustacean shellfish (like lobster crab shrimp) and soybeans. Furthermore, FALCPA requires that “contains” be stated immediately following or next to any list of ingredients listed as allergenic.
Other allergens may also trigger allergic reactions; however, only the 14 most frequently found food allergens must be legally declared on all food sold in the UK – prepackaged and non-prepacked alike – according to law. Our technical guidance on allergen declaration explains this process for prepacked and non-prepacked food alike; divided into two sections for home consumption as well as commercial establishments such as schools, hospitals and care homes.
How Do I Know if My Child Has an Allergy?
If your child is experiencing symptoms like sneezing, nasal itching and stomach discomfort due to allergies – as well as skin rashes or stomach pain – it’s essential that they see their doctor immediately. They may need antihistamines prescribed or alternative solutions in order to both prevent and treat allergic reactions.
Irritating, sneezing and watery eyes are symptoms that often indicate allergies; however, they could also indicate colds or other health problems in children. When these symptoms continue for more than 2 weeks it’s wise for them to visit a healthcare professional for evaluation.
Time of Year Can Be an Indicia: If your child’s symptoms worsen in spring when trees and grass pollinate, this could indicate allergies rather than colds. Furthermore, if they experience frequent fever or breathing issues that require medical intervention immediately – as they could indicate asthma which requires immediate medical treatment to avoid more serious consequences later.
Your child’s allergist will likely begin by performing a skin test, where small amounts of various foods are scratched into their skin and examined for redness. Blood tests may also help, but only food challenges under close medical supervision can accurately gauge a child’s reaction to particular foods; in these challenges, your child eats tiny bits of the food under close observation and see how he/she reacts.
What Can I Do to Help My Child?
If your child exhibits symptoms of allergies, make an appointment with their healthcare provider immediately. He/She will take an in-depth history as well as conduct allergy tests in order to diagnose the issue, such as physical exam and taking down a list of foods eaten recently; additionally a skin test might also be conducted or even an asthma screening test may be administered by this healthcare provider.
Peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy and tree nuts account for 90 percent of food allergies; known as “The Big Eight.” Some children outgrow these allergies while others remain lifelong sufferers.
At the first sign of allergy symptoms in your child, allergy medicine can help alleviate their discomfort. Be sure to speak with their healthcare provider regarding which medicines would best suit their individual needs.
Some children may require allergy-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) shots, which may help ease their allergies over time by decreasing body reactions to triggers. Results could take months or even years of regular injections before visible benefits emerge, and may continue to need them even once symptoms have subsided.
Discuss your child’s food allergy with school staff, encouraging them to talk about it with other students and reminding them not to accept food from strangers. Make sure your child has access to emergency epinephrine supplies.
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