Pandemic Food Labeling Changes Raise Allergy Concerns

Pandemic Food Labeling Changes Raise Allergy Concerns
Under special health emergency regulations, manufacturers can substitute some ingredients without changing the packaging label. Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock
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As the mother of a child with food allergies, Heather Sapp was well-versed in reading labels and calling manufacturers to verify ingredients. For years, she kept her daughter’s diet free of the peanuts and tree nuts that could kill her.

But when a bite of lemon-ginger hummus three years ago sent Sapp herself into life-threatening anaphylactic shock, her dependence on labeling accuracy became more complicated. Testing determined that Sapp, now 43, had developed adult-onset allergies to chickpeas, sesame, and cilantro. More recently, Sapp, who lives in Phoenix, had an anaphylactic reaction to parsley.

Sandy West
Sandy West
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