Sweethearts Candy Blog's

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, you're probably looking for candy that's safe or screening candy given to your child by others. I thought it was time for a little "label reading review" since it's become confusing over the years.

Hard to believe, but I've been writing this blog for more than two years. In that time I've discussed the safety of several foods for nut allergies and my number one piece of advice is always to read the label. Not to say that they are foolproof, but they are a great place to start.

And of course, labels change. Occasionally what was once labeled "safe" for nut allergies gets a new allergy advisory warning. Especially with the spotty way that companies are responding to the needs of consumers, you have to be vigilant with labels. Jay's brand OkeDoke popcorn is one example. We used to buy it until one day it had a nut allergy warning (along with several other food allergens) on its new packaging.

These changes can happen for many reasons: new managers, new recipes, new lines used for processing. You just never know so check your labels often.

Occasionally, you'll see a food recalled with no warnings on the label. I am on a food allergy recall alert list through my membership with FAAN (www.foodallergy.org) and you can also visit their web site to see the latest allergen recalls.

Another site to check for allergy alerts on foods is Kids With Food Allergies.

Now, back to your basic food label reading. I make every effort to keep up with the changing labels of foods I use often and I will post any changes I find here. However, just be aware that just because a company web site no longer lists specific allergens on the web page, it doesn't mean you won't get accurate info from the actual food label. This happened recently with Sweet Tarts Candy Hearts made by Willy Wonka (Nestle foods.) The web site no longer give a list of specific allergens, just refers to the fact that some Willy Wonka candies may contain food allergens.

The package I have at home (bought a couple of weeks ago) says "Processed in a facility that handles eggs and wheat." That's pretty clear and with that level of detail and no mention of nut allergens, I would feel OK with that product.

Of course you can always call the company but check for their office hours--usually right near the customer service number. Sometimes they are only open until 5 pm or earlier -- a few are open until later in the evening. If you call and don't get an answer, try again and avoid the food until you have the info you need. Remember, nothing substitutes the saying "When in doubt, do without."

Most large food companies will let you know about the top 8 allergens on the label, so please read the labels. If allergy info is simply not present, I'd make a call or send an e-mail.

Any time I've called customer service lines, one of the things they tell me is to check each label, each time for each product. So start there, and then you'll be ready with specific questions so you can get the best answers.

Food labels can be the nut-allergic family's best friend or worst enemy. They are one of our best lines of defense against our child having an allergic reaction and yet they are so darn unreliable and headache-inducing.
If you have an allergic kid, you know what I'm talking about. One week, you can buy your kids' favorite snack and the label contains no allergy warnings. The next week, you grab the same exact food at the supermarket and when you check the label (yes! you have to every time), you discover an allergy warning to nuts! There is nothing quite like that heart-dropping moment of discovery, especially if you've been touting the food as "safe" to family members, teachers and other parents.

After you recover from the shock you wonder if anyone will take you seriously when you tell them a food is "safe." And you wonder if any packaged food truly IS safe for a child with a nut allergy.

I've been amazed at the inconsistency of food labeling since my daughter was first diagnosed with a nut allergy, but luckily that's changing thanks to a 2006 law passed by the FDA that requires food packaging to contain allergy warnings for the top 8 food allergens including milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and soy.

Still, food manufacturers were given a year to comply with this law and it is only recently that I am finding out that certain foods I'd been using without concern are foods I should not have been using at all.

Two offenders that come to mind: Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips and Jay's brand Oke Doke popcorn varieties. Both recently had no allergy warnings and now they both contain strict nut allergy warnings.
Nestle chocolate chips being unsafe is kind of old news at this point, but I feel compelled to use it as an example because it makes me realize that all chocolate may be potentially allergenic. Nuts and chocolate seem to be processed on the same equipment more often than not. (By the way, I was alerted to the Nestle chips issue initially by a newsletter I receive as a member of the FAAN, the Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network. Join if you can. They rock!)

Still, unless we want to learn how to make homemade Oreos and goldfish crackers, labels are all we've got. And homemade isn't always practical anyway, so here are a few suggestions when reading labels:

First, a disclaimer. I'm not a doctor, so please always check with your doctor if you have any questions about specific foods. Thank you.

1. Look at the ingredients list carefully. Not all packaging contains a separate section that lists potential allergens. Therefore, you're going to have to know every possible term for "peanut" or "nut." For example, "marzipan" is almond paste, "filberts" are hazelnuts and "natural flavorings" can contain peanut. A little scientific knowledge on your part can make all the difference here.
2. Understand that imported, ethnic or "gourmet" foods may not have the same allergy warning requirements as the U.S. Personally, as a Nut-Free Mom, I avoid Asian foods that have been imported (big peanut risk) or any food made in any other country if it looks like it contains potentially suspicious ingredients like unnamed oils or "natural flavorings." (Canada is one exception. They have similar food packaging standards to the U.S. In some cases, superior standards.) My family loves World Market and Trader Joe's, but use their products with care. Some contain allergy warnings but many don't. For the record, Trader Joe's products (those produced by TJ) tend to have very detailed allergy warnings, but be careful with their imported foods. They are open to questions about their foods, so contact them if you need more information on their products.
3. Beware of chocolate! I mentioned it before, but I'll say it again, chocolate companies are notoriously inconsistent with their labeling. Only recently, Ghiradelli, for example, has started printing allergy warnings on all of their products, including their chocolate chips. Hershey and Baker's are brands that I have personally called (but we know how that can go) though I do feel I've done enough research to use some of their products. I also recommend Vermont Nut Free Chocolate. It is delicious, gourmet chocolate available in both eating and baking varieties and my whole family loves it.
4. Review labels often. Food packaging labels are undergoing big changes due to new laws so what you thought was safe one day may not be tomorrow. Don't take anything for granted and be sure to update any of your child's caregivers when you notice a change.