Will This Really Change Things For Allergy Sufferers?

[youngmafbog]

Whilst I fin it really sag this pretty young girl died so needlessly will a law making manufactures detail all ingredients change things?

Two observations I have:
1) What I dont understand is why people with known allergy's risk eating out. I most certainly would not, for the simply reason if someone makes a mistake although they go to jail I would be dead so scant justice for me.
2) How can any small shop, or larger chain even, make fresh food and guarantee there are no traces of a particular food contaminating it? The only way to ensure this would be in sterile factories with none of the ingredients anywhere near them.

Personally if I was in the food industry I would put a label on everything say 'May contain .....".

[ToraToraTora]

It'll help, no doubt but I'm with you on point 1) if I knew I had an allergy so bad that it could kill me, I'd never risk eating anything that wasn't prepped by me or someone I trust. On the May contain subject, I find it hilarious the way bags of nuts often say "may contain nuts"!

[Old_Geezer]

I find that just adds to, or maybe more accurately, confirms, my despair of the human race.

[jim360]

I also basically agree with you on question (1). Having said that, living a life of constant vigilance, especially one that could cripple social life, must be extremely difficult and very draining. Perhaps such people are too easily tempted to lower their guard, in favour of chasing a "normal life"?

[woofgang]

For many allergy sufferers, the amount ingested by cross contamination is not enough to be risky. Listing will also help people like myself who are sensitive to certain foods but not allergic; also I do think as a matter of principle that we should know what is in what we are eating.
....but yes I agree, for those poor people who have a life threatening allergy, listing what is "supposed" to be in the foodstuff is not sufficient and I honestly cannot see what would be.

[youngmafbog]

Yes jim, difficult to imagine how difficult it must be.

[woofgang]

jim you are right! I have seen it in people who were my patients and who also had illnesses like epilepsy or diabetes. The need to stringently self medicate and to lead a life ruled by the illness make some days very hard and these were adults.....to have to do the same as a teenager and not to be able to be as free as one's peers must be torture indeed.

[ToraToraTora]

good point jim, I imagine the urge to say simply "bu66er it" and indulge must occasionally get overwhelming.

[jim360]

Well thanks, TTT. First time for everything, eh?

But yeah, seriously, I can't say I imagine what it can be like for allergy sufferers, but from what comparable experiences I have, constant vigilance is practically impossible.

[ludwig]

// What I dont understand is why people with known allergy's risk eating out. I most certainly would not, for the simply reason if someone makes a mistake although they go to jail I would be dead so scant justice for me. //

Me neither. I find it incredible that someone with a dangerous allergy will go for a curry and trust the word of a random waiter to know whether the dish they're chosen is going to make them drop dead or not. They probably go home for a relaxing game of russian roulette afterwards.

If I a food manufacturer I'd just put a label on EVERYTHING saying 'This product is likely to contain something that people are allergic to. Don't eat it if you have any kind of food allergy'.

[ludwig]

Thinking about it, listing every ingredient is a get out of jail free for the manufacturers, so they should welcome it.
It's like saying to the consumer, there you go - you now know exactly what is in this, so any risk is entirely your responsibility.

I'm not sure how that works for restaurants though.

[gollob]

I see one chain of restaurants has put up notices that they not serve anybody with any food allergy's

[Baldric]

Re the OP,
What pretty young girl, do you have a link?

[Mamyalynne]

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/natashas-law-food-labels-what-2469008

[DTCwordfan]

Agree - why did the parents let her go through the airport without a pre-prepared sarnie or whatever - and, if I remember correctly, her father was with or near her. They are equally as guilty as Pret-à-Manger in my book.

[Mamyalynne]

Better ingredient listing/labelling won't solve everything but it's a sensible move.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe, maybe not; but those of us with the disadvantage of having working tastebuds would like to know what horrible surprises they're presently hiding, ommitted from the ingredient list, too.