Understanding Food Allergy Labels

New episode of the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations podcast! We continue our series on living with food allergies. The podcast focuses on how to read food labels when you or your child has food allergies.

Co-hosts Payel Gupta, MD, and Kortney talk with Marion Groetch, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian, to explain U.S. food labeling laws. They discuss where to find allergy information on a package and why some labels can be confusing. Many families also wonder whether they should trust a “may contain” warning.

You can listen to the podcast on ItchPodcast.com or download it for listening anytime, anywhere, at:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Any mention of brands is also informational and not an endorsement. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical questions or concerns.

Thank you to Genentech for sponsoring this podcast episode.

Key takeaways about reading food labels with food allergies

Reading food labels is an important part of staying safe with food allergies. This episode helps families understand what to look for and what to do when labels feel unclear.

  • Check the ingredients list first. This is the most reliable place to find allergy information. Do not rely on the front of the package.
  • Understand the “Contains” statement. This statement lists major allergens on purpose and must follow U.S. labeling laws. It may not always appear on the label.
  • Know what the law requires. U.S. food labeling laws require major allergens to be clearly listed on packaged foods, but not every food or situation is covered.
  • Know that some foods are labeled differently. Deli foods, restaurant meals, airline meals, alcohol, and medicines may not follow the same rules.
  • Try not to over-restrict. Learning how food labels work can help you avoid cutting out foods you may not need to avoid.

Timestamps for podcast about reading food allergy labels

01:20 – Guest intro: Marion Groetch, RDN

02:20 – What is a food label?

04:00 – FALCPA basics and allergen listing

07:12 – Foods not covered by FALCPA

10:50 – What “may contain” means

13:25 – How to understand “may contain” labels

16:25 – When label reading becomes too restrictive

18:30 – Handling “mystery” ingredients

22:40 – Higher-risk products and cross-contact

24:15 – Future regulation of “may contain” labels

25:40 – January 2025 labeling updates

28:57 – When to contact the manufacturer

33:50 – Allergens outside the Top 9

More resources on food allergies and label reading

Check out more podcast episodes about food allergy.