r/nottheonion • u/lambunctious • 4d ago

FDA warns top U.S. bakery not to claim foods contain allergens when they don't

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/26/g-s1-6238/fda-warns-bakery-foods-allergens
1.2k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

96 comments sorted by

View all comments

702

u/HomeOwner2023 4d ago

it’s like the FDA has never heard of r/UnethicalLifeProTips. The bakeries will just add a handful of sesame seeds in each batch of dough and keep the label.

4

u/EmperorLlamaLegs 4d ago

They can just take it off the ingredients list and add a "may contain". Cheaper and fully allowed.

50

u/skeevemasterflex 4d ago

I believe part of the reason this is an issue now is because the FDA says that isn't adequate.

"Some companies include statements on labels that say a food “may contain” a certain product or that the food is “produced in a facility” that also uses certain allergens. However, such statements are voluntary, not required, according to the FDA, and they do not absolve the company of requirements to prevent cross-contamination." https://apnews.com/article/sesame-allergies-label-b28f8eb3dc846f2a19d87b03440848f1

If labeling a product "may contain" doesn't absolve the company, then they have to choose between does and does not contain. And a lot of companies in the industry seem to be arguing that the liability is too high to promise to not contain, presumably because their and/or their suppliers' facilities and equipment handle allergens that can be dangerous in even minute quantities to people.

10

u/EmperorLlamaLegs 4d ago

In this article by NPR they say "FDA officials acknowledged Tuesday that statements that a product “may contain” certain allergens “could be considered truthful and not misleading.” Bimbo officials have until July 8 to identify steps taken to remedy the issue — or to explain why the labeling doesn't violate FDA standards." which led me to believe that they were giving the company an out. But maybe not? given what you've shown.