Food Labels
Ever glanced at listed ingredients on food packaging and felt like it's all gibberish? You are not alone. This can be a huge problem for those living with food allergies since ingredients can be hidden under other names. For example, maltodextrin is derived from corn, but you would never know unless you've done prior research.
It is super important to be able to identify those particular foods that are unsafe for you to consume. The food allergen label law requires packaged foods to clearly show if they contain any of the major food allergens:
- Egg
- Finned fish
- Milk
- Peanut
- Scale fish
- Soy
- Tree nut
- Wheat
These top 8 allergens must be emphasized in bold under listed ingredients in order to make them stand out. Below are some of the top allergens, along with a list of items to look out for on food packaging labels. If you are ever unsure of a certain ingredient, it is perfectly acceptable to contact the manufacturer in order to ensure the product is safe.
CORN
- Acetic acid
- Alpha tocopherol
- Artificial flavouring
- Aspartame
- Ascorbates
- Ascorbic acid
- Baking powder
- Caramel colour
- Citric acid
- Corn
- Corn flour
- Corn syrup
- Dextrin
- Dextrose
- Erythorbic acid
- Fumaric acid
- Gluconate
- Glucose
- Glycerol
- Hominy
- Maize
- Maltodextrin
- MSG
- Polenta
- Pop corn
- Saccharin
- Sorbitol
- Vegetable oil
- Xantham gum
- Zea mays
- Zein
EGG
- Albumin
- Apovitellin
- Cholesterol free egg substitute
- Dried egg
- Egg white
- Egg yolk
- Egg wash
- Eggnog
- Fat substitutes
- Globulin
- Livetin
- Lysozyme
- Mayonnaise
- Meringue
- Ovalbumin
- Ovoglobulin
- Ovomucin
- Ovomucoid
- Ovotransferrin
- Ovovitelia
- Ovovitellin
- Powdered eggs
- Silico albuminate
- Simplesse
- Surimi
- Vitellin
- Whole egg
MILK
- Butter
- Casein
- Caseinates
- Cheese
- Cream
- Curds
- Custard
- Galactose
- Ghee
- Hydrolysates
- Ice cream
- Lactalbumin
- Lactate solids
- Lactic yeast
- Lactitol monohydrate
- Lactoglobulin
- Lactose
- Lactulose
- Milk
- Milk fat
- Nisin
- Nougat
- Pudding
- Quark
- Rennet
- Sour cream
- Whey
- Yoghurt
PEANUTS
- Arachic oil
- Arachis
- Artificial nuts
- Beer nuts
- Boiled peanuts
- Crushed nuts
- Earth nuts
- Goober peas
- Ground nuts
- Hydrolyzed protein
- Kernel paste
- Mandelona
- Mani
- Mixed nuts
- Monkey nuts
- Nut pieces
- Nutmeat
- Peanuts
- Peanut butter
- Peanut flour
- Peanut oil
- Peanut paste
- Peanut sauce
- Peanut syrup
- Valencia
SHELLFISH
- Abalone
- Barnacle
- Clams
- Cockle
- Crab
- Crayfish
- Cuttlefish
- Escargot
- Fish stock
- Glucosamine
- Kamaboko
- Krill
- Langoustine
- Lobster
- Mollusks
- Mussels
- Octopus
- Oysters
- Prawns
- Scallops
- Scampi
- Seafood flavouring
- Shrimp
- Snails
- Squid
- Surimi
SOY
- Bean curd
- Edamame
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Kinako
- Koya dofu
- Miso
- Natto
- Okara
- Shoyu
- Soy albumin
- Soy concentrate
- Soy fiber
- Soy flour
- Soy formula
- Soy grits
- Soy milk
- Soy miso
- Soy nuts
- Soy nut butter
- Soy protein
- Soy sauce
- Soy sprouts
- Soya
- Soybeans
- Soy lecithin
- Supro
- Tamari
- Tempeh
- Teriyaki sauce
- Textured soy flour (TSF)
- Textured soy protein (TSP)
- Textured vegetable protein (TVP)
- Tofu
- Yaki-dofu
- Yuba
TREE NUTS
- Almond
- Almond paste
- Anacardium nuts
- Artificial nuts
- Beech nut
- Brazil nut
- Bush nut
- Butternut
- Caponata
- Cashew
- Chestnut
- Chinquapin
- Filbert
- Gianduja
- Ginko nut
- Hazelnut
- Heart nut
- Hickory nut
- Indian nut
- Karite
- Lychee nut
- Macadamia nut
- Mandelonas
- Marzipan
- Mashuga nuts
- Nangai nuts
- Natural nut extract
- Nougat
- Nut butters
- Nut meal
- Nutella
- Nutmeat
- Nut oil
- Nut paste
- Nut pieces
- Pecan
- Pigñolia
- Pili nut
- Pine nut
- Pistachio
- Pralines
- Shea nut
- Walnut
WHEAT
- Atta
- Bread
- Bulgur
- Cereal
- Couscous
- Cracker meal
- Durum
- Einkorn
- Emmer
- Farina
- Farro
- Flour
- Fu
- Gluten
- Graham
- Kamut
- Maida
- Malt
- Matzo
- Noodles
- Pasta
- Seitan
- Semolina
- Spelt
- Tabbouleh
- Triticale
- Triticum
- Wheat
- Wheat berries
- Wheatgrass
