Nursery World - Call for clarity on food labels

* A consultation on the use of alternative phrases to make warnings about the contents of food more explicit to allergy sufferers has been launched by the Food Standards Agency. The FSA said consumers were concerned at the phrase 'may contain' as used by manufacturers to warn of the presence of ingredients that might provoke an allergic reaction. It has suggested two alternative phrases - 'Not suitable for peanut/nut/sesame allergic consumers', or 'Not suitable for people with peanut/nut/sesame allergy'.

The FSA said consumers were concerned at the phrase 'may contain' as used by manufacturers to warn of the presence of ingredients that might provoke an allergic reaction. It has suggested two alternative phrases - 'Not suitable for peanut/nut/sesame allergic consumers', or 'Not suitable for people with peanut/nut/sesame allergy'.

But David Reading, director of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, said the wording was secondary to the need to get the food industry to reduce levels of contamination. He called on manufacturers to 'clean up their act to minimise the risk of contamination'.

The consultation ends on 2 March 2004. Responses should be e-mailed to labelling@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.

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