Food Fascism

In 2006, the FDA started mandating labeling for allergies (because, you know, manufacturers have no other incentive to protect their reputation and their customers). According to this article, labeling for trace amounts of allergens is voluntary, inconsistent and confusing (although it appears to err on the side of caution). And the obvious recommendation is (what else?) a new law.

But the 2006 law may have caused food manufacturers to overcompensate, leading to the confusing labeling:

[The law] also requires the FDA to submit a report to Congress on food allergens, particularly with respect to identifying ways to reduce or eliminate cross-contact and stating the risk of cross-contact on food labels.

Manufacturers may have been expecting the trace amounts labeling to become mandatory, and the penalties for non-compliance are non-trivial. New labeling will further encourage parents to risk their children’s lives under a false sense of security.

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5:17 pm on August 25, 2008