Wheat - One of the nine most common food allergens
Frequently asked questions about wheat allergiesI have a wheat allergy. How can I avoid a wheat-related reaction?Avoid all food and products that contain wheat and wheat derivatives, including any product whose ingredient list warns it may contain wheat. What is the difference between a wheat allergy and celiac disease?Wheat allergy and celiac disease are two different conditions. When someone has a wheat allergy his/her immune system has an abnormal reaction to proteins from wheat, with symptoms similar to that of other allergic food reactions. When a person suffering from celiac disease eats food containing the protein gluten, which is found in wheat and some other grains, it damages the lining of the small intestine, which stops the body from absorbing nutrients. This can lead to diarrhoea, weight loss and eventually malnutrition. If you are unsure whether you have a wheat allergy or celiac disease, consult an allergist. How can I determine if a product contains wheat or wheat derivatives?Always read the ingredient list carefully. Wheat and wheat derivatives can often be present under different names, e.g., semolina. Do not forget that cross-contamination, e.g., using the same plate that was just used to serve sliced bread, can also be a potential source of the allergen. What do I do if I am not sure whether a product contains wheat or wheat derivatives?If you have a wheat allergy, do not eat or use the product. Get ingredient information from the manufacturer. Avoiding wheat and wheat derivativesMake sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that contain wheat and wheat derivatives. Always ask questions about food preparation, ingredients and the possibility of cross-contamination when eating out and buying food from retail food outlets, e.g., in-store bakeries, shopping centre food outlets. Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read labels every time you shop. Manufacturers may occasionally change their recipes or use different ingredients for varieties of the same brand. Refer to the following list before shopping: Other names for wheatBulgur Possible sources of wheatNote: Avoid all food and products that contain wheat in the ingredient list, e.g., wheat germ. Baked goods and baking mixes, e.g.,
breads, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, muffins Non-food sources of wheatCosmetics, hair care products Note: These lists are not complete and may change. Food and food products purchased from other countries, through mail-order or the Internet, are not always produced using the same manufacturing and labelling standards as in Canada. What can I do?Be informedSee an allergist and educate yourself about food allergies. Contact your local allergy association for further information. If you or anyone you know has food allergies or would like to receive information about food being recalled, sign up for the Canadian Food Inspection Agencys (CFIA) free e-mail Allergy Alerts and Food Recalls subscription service available at www.inspection.gc.ca. When you sign up you will automatically receive food recall public warnings. Before eatingAllergists recommend that if you do not have your EpiPen® with you, that you not eat. If an ingredient list says a product may contain or does contain wheat or wheat derivatives, do not eat. If you do not recognize an ingredient or there is no ingredient list available, avoid the product. What is the Government of Canada doing about food allergens?The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe food to all Canadians. The CFIA and Health Canada work closely with municipal, provincial and territorial partners and industry to meet this goal. The CFIA enforces Canadas labelling laws and works with associations, distributors, food manufacturers and importers to ensure complete and appropriate labelling of all foods. The CFIA recommends that food companies establish effective allergen controls to minimize the potential for allergic reactions. When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential serious hazard associated with a food, such as undeclared allergens, the food product is recalled from the marketplace and a public warning is issued. The Food and Drug Regulations require that most pre-packaged foods carry a label and that their ingredients appear in a list in decreasing order of proportion. However, they do not currently require components (e.g. ingredients of ingredients) of certain foods and products, such as flavouring, seasoning, spices and vinegar, to be listed on food labels. Health Canada has worked with the medical community, consumer associations, and the food industry to enhance labelling requirements for priority allergens, gluten sources and sulphite in pre-packaged foods sold in Canada. These regulations would require that the most common food and food ingredients that cause life-threatening or severe allergic reactions are always identified by their common names that consumers can easily recognize on food labels. Where can I get more information?For more information on food allergies and to subscribe to the free Allergy Alerts and Food Recalls e-mail subscription service, contact the CFIA at www.inspection.gc.ca or 1-800-442-2342 (8:00 am to 4:00 pm local time - Monday to Friday). For information on this and other Government of Canada programs and services
call Below are some of the organizations that can provide additional allergy information:
Developed in consultation with the Allergy/Asthma Information Association, Anaphylaxis Canada, Association Québécoise Des Allergies Alimentaires, the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the Canadian Celiac Association and Health Canada. |
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