My kids are of an age when they check labels carefully for warnings regarding allergens. They are also of an age when they want to try different foods. Anyhow, I have noticed in the last couple of years (actually maybe longer) that there are fewer "safe" choices for my kids who have multiple allergies. The biggest obstacles involve contamination from peanuts or nuts. Are food products becoming more dangerous for allergic kids or are the manufacturers simply taking more care to protect themselves from liability?
For example, partly based on prior bad experiences, DS/DD knows to avoid products that are made on the same equipment, particularly certain U.S. brands and all foreign brands. It used to be that many major products were safe, but now DS is afraid to even eat things like OREOS because at least some of the packages contain warning labels about possible contamination from the same equipment.
Then there are warning labels about nuts and/or peanuts being manufactured in the same facility. At 11, I really want DS/DD to make some of their own decisions but of course, they still take their cues from me. It is rather frustrating how limiting it can be to avoid all products made in the same facility. I am not even sure that I should insist. After all, they grew up with peanuts/nuts in the household, partly because I felt that it would be safer for them to learn to deal with it at home so that they can safely deal with it outside the home. We have discussed the implications but I ultimately left it up to them.
What has been your experience?
