Some food ingredients can cause severe allergic reactions to some people, this is known as anaphylaxis. Food which contains peanuts, tree nuts such as cashews, walnuts or almonds, shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, sesame or soybeans or their products must be labelled however small the amount. Gluten must also be labelled for those with coeliac disease. Sulphite preserves must also be labelled if there is more than 10 milligrams per kilogram. This is because it can trigger asthma attacks in some asthmatics at that level. There is more information about food allergies on the Anaphylaxis Australia website or on Allergy New Zealand’s website.

Food allergens