Please...Call it What it is

I now consider myself to be a good label reader. Before Brody was diagnosed with allergies, I always looked at the label to make sure the product I was purchasing did not contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, MSG or Dyes (example: Red #40, Yellow #5, etc.)

Now, I am looking at labels for the items mentioned above, plus milk, eggs, peanuts and wheat. I have found out since starting this new journey with food allergies, that not all food labels call these allergen by their "normal" name. The manufacturer lists some "AKA" names on the label, which makes the process somewhat of a hide and seek for the allergen game.

Here's a sampling of the unusual names and food sources for these allergens.


Allergen: Egg
Alternate Names: Albumin, lysozyme, globulin, ovumucin, vitellin, Simplesse™ (found in low-fat foods)
Food Sources: Egg substitutes, mayonnaise


Allergen: Milk
Alternate Names: Calcium, whey, lactose, casein
Food Sources: Cream, high-protein powder, sour cream, cottage cheese, cakes, puddings, hot chocolate, cheese, yogurt


Allergen: Fish or shellfish
Alternate Names: Agar, carrageenan
Food Sources: Worcestershire sauce, Caesar salad, dressing, cod liver oil


Allergen: Soy
Alternate Names: Guar gum, vegetable protein, lecithin, carob, starch, emulsifiers, flavorings, stabilizers
Food Sources: Vegetable broth or oil, tofu, soy sauce, tempeh, shortening, edamame, chorizo


Allergen: Wheat
Alternate Names: Gluten, semolina, modified food starch, MSG, vegetable gum
Food Sources: All-purpose flour, bleached flour, bran, American cheese, canned soup


Allergen: Peanuts
Alternate Names: Natural and artificial flavoring (read labels carefully to identify what kinds of artificial flavors might be in a food product)
Food Sources: Ice cream, chocolate, gravy, marzipan, egg rolls, candy, cookies


Allergen: Tree nuts
Alternate Names: Cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts (also called filberts), pine nuts, pistachios, macadamias, natural and artificial flavoring (read labels carefully to identify what kinds of artificial flavors might be in a food product)
Food Sources: Barbecue sauce, crackers, ice cream, foods with peanuts (may be cross-contaminated with tree nuts)


Elissa Sonnenberg is an editor at Cincinnati Magazine, in Ohio.

Article from Parents.com