Food allergies affect a significant portion of the population. Common allergens include milk, egg, soy, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts and wheat – and must be clearly labeled on food packages in accordance with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004.
Food businesses must implement policies regarding handling and preparation of food containing nine major allergens as outlined by the Food Standards Code, or face enforcement action from local authorities. Failure to do so may incur severe fines for violations.
Allergens in Food
Food proteins can trigger allergic reactions that affect the respiratory, stomach and intestine systems, skin, cardiovascular system and even cause shock, low blood pressure or loss of consciousness – some reactions even become life-threatening. These reactions are caused by your immune system responding to certain food proteins as if they are harmful substances; such as milk, eggs, peanuts, fish (including crustacean shellfish), tree nuts, soy wheat sesame etc. The most frequently affected food items include milk, egg, peanuts fish ( including crustacean shellfish), tree nuts soy wheat sesame etc.
Food producers in the United States must adhere to federal regulations mandating labelling of products containing any of nine major allergens: milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts (almond, Brazil nut, hazelnut, pecan pine nut and pistachio), soy, fish crustacean shellfish or sesame. Australia and New Zealand’s Food Standards Code requires products be clearly labeled with 14 priority allergens such as gluten sources or added sulphites for effective labelling purposes.
Allergens must be listed on the ingredients lists of all pre-packaged food sold in Northern Ireland, and our Allergen Labelling Tool (opens in a new window) provides this resource. This resource covers 14 priority allergens as well as their common names, how they’re labeled on food labels, possible sources for ingredients that contain them and ways to avoid them altogether; additionally it covers Sulphites along with possible sources, alternative names and precautionary statements for those sensitive to them.
Allergens in Drink
Allergens found in drink can have serious repercussions for individuals’ health by causing skin rashes and breathing difficulties, or genuine alcohol allergies are relatively uncommon; symptoms may range from itchy mouth and eyes to full-blown anaphylaxis reactions; it is therefore crucial that proper medical evaluation and allergy testing is undertaken in order to confirm such sensitivities; common allergens found in alcoholic drinks may include barley, hops, yeast, wheat rye gluten as well as sulfites among others.
Alcohol beverages can often be difficult to identify as allergen-free due to differing regulations between bottled alcohol and foodstuffs, with foods having to list all their ingredients while beverages may include ingredients such as spices and herbs which often contain allergens, not to mention wines often being treated with egg or seafood proteins as fining agents.
Reacting swiftly and proactively when it comes to allergens in drinks benefits both consumers and beverage companies alike. Being proactive helps protect the health of allergic individuals while showing your business cares about legal compliance and customer wellbeing. NCASS members can access helpful tools like an Allergen Matrix and ingredient/product specification record sheets which will assist them in this endeavor and ensure you’re trading in accordance with current laws and guidelines.
Allergens in Personal Care
Allergies can affect skin, sinuses, airways and digestive system in various ways. Allergies result from your immune system reacting to certain substances known as allergens (pollen, pet dander and even certain foods and medicines that usually do not cause reactions in most people) by sending protective proteins out that attack and inflame these allergens causing skin inflammation, sinusitis or airway issues.
Allergens found in personal care products can cause allergic contact dermatitis, the most prevalent form of contact dermatitis. According to researchers, allergens enter the body through products like shampoos, soaps and lotions through contact with cells in the outer layer of skin via proteins called CD1a that interact with receptors on immune cells to activate them.
Researchers discovered that fragrances and other ingredients, including methyldibromoglutaronitrile, phenoxyethanol and propylene glycol can trigger allergic contact dermatitis by activating receptors on the surface of skin. Furthermore, their analysis of top 20 most-used cosmetic products for sensitive skin revealed many contained allergens likely to be inhaled through skin or inhaled through breathing systems.
Most products analyzed contained at least one allergen and 78% included combinations that can cause allergic reactions. Fragrance allergens like linalool, benzyl alcohol and geraniol were the most prominent, followed by skin-conditioning agents, surfactants and preservatives.
Allergens in Clothing
Fabric allergies (also called textile contact dermatitis) are an increasingly prevalent problem, often manifested as itching and redness that progresses to small fluid-filled blisters. Clothing allergies often stem from chemicals used to dye fabrics like polyester that come into direct contact with skin; allergies cause the immune system to react inflamedly when otherwise harmless stimuli come into direct contact with it – in this instance waistband areas and upper thighs often become affected first.
Textile allergy symptoms may result from reacting to either the fibres themselves, or more likely from chemical additives and finishing agents used to process them, including formaldehyde finishing resins, dyes, glues and glue-applies. It’s also possible for individuals with metal allergies – nickel, chromium or cobalt found in buttons or zippers – to experience allergic symptoms from textile products.
Acknowledging the source of fabric allergy can be challenging due to today’s increased use of textiles manufactured using complex blends of dyes and chemicals that often aren’t clearly labeled on fabric labels. Diagnosis usually involves special allergy tests known as patch tests that screen for allergenic chemicals present within textiles – this may involve testing against multiple substances as there may be multiple potential allergens present within textiles that could trigger symptoms.
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