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Peanut Allergy
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Jumping in here... yes, I'm Canadian. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Bensmom and others - Our labelling states that "may contain" may not be used in place of good manufacturing practices. In other words, you can't slap a label on a product because you're too lazy to clean your equipment properly. If there is a risk of cross-contamination, but the item is not run on the same line as the allergen, the labelling will state "manufactured in the same facility with peanut products". A company like Kellogg Canada can get away with NO labelling, because their GMPs are top notch:
1) They thoroughly break down and clean their lines every weekend. They run allergen-containing lines last thing in the week, before the cleaning.
2) They worked with an allergy task force (not sure what it was actually called or was comprised of) to develop their GMPs. They were honoured by Anaphylaxis Canada for their great strides for food allergic people in the food industry.
3) They do actually have peanuts in their plant, but they're not required to label because the peanut are in a single room, sealed, with reverse ventilation so that when the door is opened the peanut dust does not fly out and contaminate the lines.
This stuff is just off the top of my head from my own research in the past year. I'm sure someone can answer your concerns much more concisely, but I feel comfortable with Canada's labelling guidelines and I hope the new U.S. bill equals them.
Carolyn
Dear Ben's Mom
After the bill becomes law, the FDA will be charged with creating a new set of regulations that further describe the manufacturers' obligations with respect to preventing cross contamination and using "may contain" labels.
I would assume that these regs would be as detailed, if not more so, than the current GMP regs that you cite in your posting. The FDA would enforce these new regs through plant inspections and recalls, just as they do now with the current GMP regs. This system will never be perfect and will not eliminate the need to call manufacturers (which is why the bill also provides that manufacturers shall include their phone numbers on labels), but if the the bill passes, it will be a vast improvement over what we have in place today.
[This message has been edited by Colleen's Mom (edited June 13, 2002).]
Just mailed my letters. Thanks so much!
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Stay Safe,
Fran
Just saw a post on anothor board- Tennessee constituents in particular need to contact Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) at his district office and indicate their support for this bill. (Original alert issued by Food Allergy Initiative)
hr4707 link
click here
[url="http://www.peanutallergy.com/hr4707.htm"]www.peanutallergy.com/hr4707.htm[/url]
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Stay Safe,
[email]Chris@PeanutAllergy.Com[/email]
.
Chris,
I've tried several times to access the link above but there is nothing there... is it me or is there a problem with the link?
(Its probably me as I'm sick and its almost 1 am and I can't sleep!)
Thanks,
Valerie
Problem with the web page it is linked to, working on it, should be working early this week.
Email me if it is not working by Wed. pm
Stay Safe,
[email]Chris@PeanutAllergy.Com[/email]
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Stay Safe,
[email]Chris@PeanutAllergy.Com[/email]
Thank you all for this important info! Sent emails, will send letters today.
>>>
I am writing to respectfully request your support of the Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act (S. 2499 and HR. 4704). This bill has been sponsored and introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy and Congresswoman Nita Lowey in order to help the over seven million American children and adults who suffer from food allergies identify safe and unsafe foods in order to stay healthy and alive. Recent studies estimate that each year over 200 Americans die due to the ingestion of allergenic foods and 30,000 receive life-saving treatment in emergency rooms. The good news if this bill is passed, many of these deaths and near-fatal incidents can be prevented.
The only way to avoid a potentially life-threatening food allergic reaction is to avoid the food allergen. Unfortunately, reading ingredient labels is difficult because ingredient statements are written for scientists, not consumers. There are over 30 terms for milk and over 18 terms for egg. Furthermore, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act exempts natural and artificial flavorings from ingredient labeling requirements. This is dangerous and wrong because these terms may refer to any food, including milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy - the eight most prevalent food allergies. The Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act addresses these issues by:
* Requiring that food statements list in common language, what, if any, of the eight main food allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy, and wheat) are contained in the product;
* Closing the additive loophole by requiring ingredient statements to take into account if any allergens were used in the spices, natural or artificial flavorings, additives, and colorings;
* Requiring food manufacturers to include a working telephone information number on food labels;
* Requiring manufacturers to better prevent cross-contamination between products produced in the same facility or on the same production line;
* Requiring the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to track food-allergic related deaths.
All families deserve to feel confident about the safety of the food on their tables. I urge you to show your support the Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act by contacting your Senators or Congressmen. Please make an appointment with them or one of their staff members at their District office and explain to them the benefits of this critical bill that will help food-allergic consumers to more easily identify product ingredients, and stay healthy. In addition, please email them by Clicking Here.
For more information about this bill or if you would like the contact information for your Congressional Representatives, please contact Amie Rappoport, Administrative Director of the Food Allergy Initiative at [email]ARappoport@FoodAllergyInitiative.org[/email] or at 212-527-5835. For more information about the Food Allergy Initiative, please visit [url="http://www.FoodAllergyInitiative.org"]www.FoodAllergyInitiative.org[/url] In advance, I thank you for your time and support of the Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act -- it will help save lives.
Sincerely,
Amie Rappoport, Esq.
Administrative Director
Food Allergy Initiative
625 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 527-5835
Fax: (212) 527-5837
[email]ARappoport@FoodAllergyInitiative.org[/email]
[url="http://www.FoodAllergyInitiative.org"]www.FoodAllergyInitiative.org[/url]
The Food Allergy Initiative (FAI), a national non-profit organization, is dedicated to finding a cure to life-threatening food allergies. In addition to funding research and clinical activities to identify and treat those at risk, FAI supports public policy initiatives to create a safer environment for those afflicted, and educational programs to heighten awareness among health and child care workers, schools, camps, and members of the hospitality and food service industries about food allergies and the danger of anaphylaxis.
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