Unlabeled allergens can lead to fatalities

There are so many things that improperly designed food labels can overlook or neglect to mention, and the results can be more serious than just a consumer complaint. Although there’s always the chance for customer ignorance, your company should limit the chances of any outstanding risks in its products by keeping ingredients documented.

One tragic story recently covered by CNN reveals how important it is to keep the presence of potential allergens well-known. A quick encounter with a food containing peanuts is said to have resulted in the death of a 13-year-old girl at a camp in Sacramento.

The news source reported that even though the victim had only one bite of a homemade Rice Krispies dessert with a peanut butter and chocolate frosting, the resulting shock led to horrific reactions, including vomiting, throat swelling before she eventually passed away despite the use of EpiPen. The instance is made all the more tragic due to how cautious the family was already being in avoiding potential sources of peanuts.

While it’s not clear if this particular incident necessarily links back to food labels as the cause, it’s possible that confusion can occur in kitchens anywhere if ingredients aren’t clearly displayed. And though peanuts are a relatively famous cause of allergies, there are others that aren’t necessarily as recognizable or familiar to kitchen staff.

Because it doesn’t take much exposure to cause damage, use a color label printer to create visible warnings and labels with clear handling instructions regarding your product. As regulations regarding the definition of certain elements expand with medical knowledge, any new risks might present other important problem areas worthy of keeping an eye on.