AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question Why do peanut butter jars have allergy warnings that the product may contain traces of penuts?
This is for a school research paper, so please take it serousily.
Answer Hi Matt,
While it may seem odd and redundant that peanut butter may contain peanuts (DUH!!!) there is a reason why peanut butter must be labeled such.
Peanuts are one of the 8 most common foods that cause allergic reactions in individuals. Because of this, law now requires that any food that contains peanuts or any derivative of peanuts such as peanut oil, be clearly labeled. Also, facilities that produce foods where peanuts are used, even if the food itself does not contain peanuts, must be labeled as "produced in a facility where peanuts are used." This is why you may see this on a sign in Dairy Queen's and other restaurants where peanuts are frequently used in their products. Also, if a food contains any of the 8 major food allergens [milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts and almonds), soy, wheat, fish and shellfish]it must be clearly labeled that the food contains these items.
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), an FDA law, requires allergens to be listed on food labels in plain English.
