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 with celiac disease eats food containing the protein gluten (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 diarrhea, weight loss and eventually malnutrition. If you are unsure whether you have a wheat allergy or celiac disease, consult an allergist or a physician. 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. 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. Watch out for allergen cross contamination!Cross contamination is the transfer of an ingredient (food allergen) to a product that does not normally have that ingredient in it. Through cross contamination, a food that should not contain the allergen could become dangerous to eat for those who are allergic. Cross contamination can happen:
Avoiding wheat and wheat derivativesMake sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that contain wheat and wheat derivatives. 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 wheatAtta Possible sources of wheatNote: Avoid all food and products that are made from wheat and/or contain wheat in the ingredient list including baked goods, baking mixes, breads, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, muffins, battered/fried foods, bread crumbs, cereals, crackers, croutons, creamed (thickened) soups, gravy mixes and pasta. Baking powder, flour 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. For example, some gluten-free products from Europe may contain wheat starch. 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 Agency's (CFIA) free e-mail "Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts" notification 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 epinephrine auto-injector device with you, that you do not eat. If an ingredient list says a product "may contain" or "does contain" wheat or wheat derivatives, do not eat it. 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 Canada's 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 pre-packaged food be labelled and that their ingredients appear in a list in decreasing order of proportion. However, these regulations 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 regulations for priority allergens, gluten sources and sulphites in pre-packaged food sold in Canada. Health Canada is proposing to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to require that the most common food and food ingredients that cause life-threatening or severe allergic reactions are always identified by their common names allowing consumers to easily recognize them. Where can I get more information?For more information on:
visit the CFIA Website at www.inspection.gc.ca or call 1 800 442-2342/TTY 1 800 465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday). Below are some organizations that can provide additional allergy information: Allergy/Asthma Information Association www.aaia.ca Anaphylaxis Canada www.anaphylaxis.ca Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires www.aqaa.qc.ca (French only) Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology www.csaci.medical.org (English only) Health Canada www.hc-sc.gc.ca Developed in consultation with Allergy/Asthma Information Association, Anaphylaxis Canada, Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires, Canadian Celiac Association, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Health Canada. Cat. No. A104-27/3-2005E |
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