Labeling for liability purposes only. ANNOYING

Well, I am not aware of companies that do add disclaimers that reduce their market and chance of sales for the sole reason of preventing lawsuits. I have heard others put forward your point of view and I cannot dispute it absolutely with facts in every case BUT in most cases it is easily checked. There are tests that manufacturers use to check for traces of nuts or other allergens as applicable in their products. I am thrilled that this sampling is occurring as it helps companies place information based on fact on labels. 40 years ago, my family members did not have that information and surprise reactions to foods that should have been nut free happened. I am also thrilled to know that manufacturers understand the need to be specific--manufactured in a facilty that also produces.... versus "may contain traces of... This is not about employees' lunch habits. It is about fact and providing information to allow allergic consumers to make good decisions based on the label. Please reconsider your opinion and study this issue more carefully. Your local library, the FDA in the US and the CFIA in Canada are good places to start. Good luck.

Actually it is a fact that companies are labeling things as having nuts that actually have no traces of nuts at all. They look at it from a bean counting standpoint. How much trouble would it be to be super careful in their manufacturing and still risk that there might be some freak incident with contact transfer of allergens versus the relatively small amount of business they might lose if they add the false precautionary labeling... and guess what...it is cheaper to lose a few customers. The govt. of Canada is all over it because they assert that companies are using the "precautionary labeling" as an alternative to safe manufacturing techniques. It is a huge deal. The FDA has written a bit on it, but their focus is on clarity in labeling as well as accurate labeling.

Quote:Originally posted by donnagaller:
[b]Actually it is a fact that companies are labeling things as having nuts that actually have no traces of nuts at all. [/b]

Really? Interesting "fact" because this has not been my experience at all. I have found that the opposite is true -- companies that don't label when the product is produced on the same equipment as pnut products.

I can think of several companies off the top of my head that do not label simply for liability purposes -- Hershey, Dunkin Hines, Kellogs & M&M Mars all label for may contains, but only for certain items that have been processed on the same equipment, not every item that they produce.

[This message has been edited by ElleMo (edited December 06, 2005).]

I think I'd rather have the warning over-used than under-used, but I agree it's annoying. Especially when something we used to be able to buy all of a sudden has a warning on it!

But, in this lawsuit-frenzied part of the world, who can blame the Companies? When alchoholic mothers sue the liquor companies (or their ob's) for fetal abnormalities and people who spill hot coffee in their laps while driving sue fast food restaurants, I think I'd be covering my butt, too.

Since the new labels are hitting the shelves I have found this to be A BIG problem. All the bread I used to buy is label as processed in facility or made on equipment warnings on them now. I am so frustrated. Walmart brand , Holsum soft twist, and several others. I think I am going to buy a bread machine and start making my own every couple of days. My DS lives on grilled cheese! I have found this on several other products lately as well. I guess we are going to have to spend a lot of time on the phone and re-educate our childrens care givers. About the time you would give your child a may contain it would be the time it may cause a reaction. What to do? What to do?

My personal favorite CYA warning is at Costco (Canada). Everything they make in store from fruit plates, to veggie plates to pizzas, roaster chicken, salads EVERYTHING has a may contain traces of Nuts, Peanuts, Eggs, Sulfites, wheat, milk, seseme seed, yadda, yadda, yadda. There are literally 10 or 15 products listed that it "may contain". I spoke with the manager and said that what this tells me is that they have terrible food handling practices, rather than the goal of being "concerned" for their customers. For the bakery items I can understand. But between the bakery and the general food prep area is the butcher shop. If my Filet Mignon doesn't have a warning on it, then why should my fruit salad! My preference is for labeling that says "Manufacturered in a Nut/Peanut Free Facility. . or "Product Contains Wheat, Nut, etc." This tells me that they are aware of what there is and is not in their facilities and is not a generalized CYA. Dare Foods and Sobey's "Compliments" products have GREAT labeling - I wish others would follow suit.

this is exactly why the government should not be involved in every aspect of individuals' lives. (never the intent of the framers of our government to begin with. they intended for individuals to take responsiblity for themselves.)
this could have easily been predicted when all the hoopla started over the new labeling laws. and now everyone wants to legislate and LITIGATE restaurants to follow suit as well -- now a lot of good that is going to do.

Quote:Originally posted by shoshana18:
[b]
this could have easily been predicted when all the hoopla started over the new labeling laws.[/b]

The new labeling laws do not require manufacturers to label "may contains"

(see [url="http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/alrgqa.html#q13"]http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/alrgqa.html#q13[/url]

yes, i know the law. my point is, since by law, they are required to label allergens, and since we live in such a litigious country, it could easily have been predicted that these companies would do what they could to protect themselves (i.e., in some cases "over-label").

this is definitely a situation of "be careful what you wish for".

Quote:
this is definitely a situation of "be careful what you wish for".[/B]

We never cannot be too careful these days...all it takes is one mistake.

I agree, I'm finding, labels that say "may contain" this or that is driving me nuts.

I want to know does IT contain nuts or not? That's all. Geesh.

when it says "may contain", it means that it is made on a shared line or in a shared facility. it is not a CYA thing.