Advocacy:
Our submission to Health Canada on the regulation of self-care products in Canada.
Health Canada recently asked for feedback from Canadians on a new initiative to improve regulation of self-care products in Canada. These products include: natural health products (such as supplements), cosmetics and non-prescription drugs. The open consultation closed in October.
We were pleased to provide feedback and recommendations to Health Canada on behalf of Canadians with food allergies. Our main recommendations include the following:
- Require manufacturers to provide a complete and accurate ingredient list that includes priority food allergens, for each product
- Use plain, simple language for priority food allergens, as currently required for pre-packaged food products, e.g. whey (milk)
- Follow similar labelling requirements as regulated by Health Canada for pre-packaged products that require priority allergens to be declared in the list of ingredients, OR in the “Contains” statement
- Follow Health Canada recommendations if manufacturers elect to use precautionary statements for priority food allergens: Health Canada has recommended the single statement “May contain:” when precautionary labelling is needed
Read our complete submission today.
Call for participants: Help us make dining out safer
Food Allergy Canada, together with Allergies Québec and the Allergy Asthma Information Association, is currently gathering information about the dining out practices and experiences of individuals with food allergies and their families.
The information from this survey will be used to raise awareness within the foodservice industry about the needs of consumers with food allergies. Please note that all information provided will remain confidential and only aggregate data will be shared with stakeholders.
The survey closes on November 30, 2016. Take the survey now and please share with others! The link to the survey is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JZHL9PD
Global Epinephrine Survey – Extended
A major research study, Global review of epinephrine availability and anaphylaxis management practices amongst patient organization countries, led by researchers from Ontario’s McMaster University in collaboration with Food Allergy Canada and other international stakeholders, is underway.
As part of this project, people at risk of anaphylaxis have been asked to participate in a survey in order to help improve the understanding of the availability of epinephrine auto-injectors worldwide and use of stock epinephrine, and anaphylaxis emergency plans will also be reviewed.
The survey has been extended to November 30, 2016 to allow additional time for participation. If you have not already done so, please complete the survey today. The survey is also available in French.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Research:
Study findings: Confusing food labels place consumers with food allergy at risk
Excerpt from news release from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
A recent study found that consumers with food allergy concerns often misunderstand food labels about allergens that say “may contain” or “manufactured on shared equipment.”
While they should avoid such products to prevent what could be a serious allergic reaction, up to 40 percent bought food items with precautionary allergen labels. Almost 40 percent of children with food allergy have experienced at least one life-threatening reaction.
The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, surveyed 6,584 consumers in the U.S. and Canada on their purchasing habits of food products with various labels about possible allergen exposure due to food processing. Most participants were caregivers of a food-allergic child, while the rest had food allergy themselves.
Food Allergy Canada and FARE led this North American study across Canada and the U.S. to better understand how consumers interpret precautionary statements on food labels. If you participated in this survey, thank you so much for helping this very important research.
Study: Initial and accidental reactions are managed inadequately in children with a sesame allergy
The largest North American study of children with a sesame allergy was recently published by JACI in Practice, an official publication of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). The study, which Food Allergy Canada was involved with, notes that 62% of children with sesame allergy present with anaphylaxis, and among those with a known allergy, the annual rate of accidental exposure is 15.9%.
A key finding noted that most initial reactions and accidental exposures are managed inadequately, emphasizing the need for improved education.