Dumbest Allergy Warning Ever
Saw this on Reddit just a bit ago. The eggs at Tesco in Ireland come complete with a label that reads "Allergy Advice: Contains egg."
Well, NSS.
My guess? I reckon that if it's not explicitly required by Irish law, this warning is the product of an overzealous legal department CYAing like nobody's business.
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18 Comments:
I have a tub of Emerald brand honey roasted peanuts that has a warning on the back: "May contain peanuts".
So glad they cleared that up...
gingercookiewithlime at 11:22PM on 07/20/09
And in the Bird's Eye green beans and almond slivers, the almonds are in a bag stamped "WARNING: Contains Almonds." At least they don't give you a 50/50 shot like the "May Contain . . ." deal.
The Wandering Foodie at 11:30PM on 07/20/09
Oh I've seen a bunch like this...bag of peanut may contain peanuts, Loaf of bread, may contain wheat.
May? I was kinda hoping it would!
Amy
Baking and Mistaking
cool2bars at 12:29AM on 07/21/09
Our recently purchased jar of market Pantry Peanut Butter has the warning. "contains Peanut"
My husband and I both said "Only 1?!"
TattooedCheese at 12:32AM on 07/21/09
Contains: egg...just one egg in a half-dozen.
I imagine the recession has hit Ireland as well...lol...
metrogirl at 1:21AM on 07/21/09
LOL!!!!
jlew911 at 2:34AM on 07/21/09
Haha. I think a lot of governments are implementing allergy labelling laws these days, so I'm sure all the egg, nut, soy, wheat, dairy, whatever makers are embarrassed themselves that they have to make labels like this.
Vincci at 4:12AM on 07/21/09
Yeah, most products I buy in the U.S. that are peanut-related, like pb, have a warning they contain peanuts--ditto with wheat bread and so forth. It's just easier to have the label than avoid the lawsuit for companies.
Additionally, when I lived in the UK I really liked the little green 'vegetarian' label on all products that were 100% vegetarian--no need to scan for animal-based rennet or meat-based stock.
HeartofGlass at 5:57AM on 07/21/09
My favorite are sleeping pills that warn of "May(be) causing Drowsiness."
Um..why am I taking this? : )
On a slightly unrelated note, I own an iron that reminds me "Do Not Iron Clothes While Wearing" and "Do Not Operate While Asleep."
Thanks. If I ever get the urge, I'll let ya know!
Takat at 7:22AM on 07/21/09
Yes, it is required by Irish law, US labeling laws as well.
Food manufacturers are required to assume consumers are idiots and don't know eggs can aggravate an egg allergy. Most food recalls are due to labeling issues, not unsafe food (unless you have allergies). Most technical names for milk and egg components must be clarified to tell people they are derived from an allergen, whey and casein must be declared as derived for milk, albumen must be declared as being derived from egg. If you think that is silly, just imagine how manufacturers feel when consumers don't even pay attention to what is on the label.
Meat guy at 8:26AM on 07/21/09
i caught a little of the movie 'keeping the faith' the other day on tv. (ben stiller & ed norton are in it) the part i saw was where ben was explaining what an idiot his date was...she didn't want dessert. he got pecan pie. she asked for a bite, took it, and as her face swelled up she asked, 'does this have NUTS in it?!' ben ended the story by saying, "it was PECAN pie!?!?" too funny-had to share when i saw this. some people are just that thick, i suppose.
gastronomeg at 9:49AM on 07/21/09
my bag of peanuts on northwest airlines had the warning "packed in a facility that processes peanuts".
mr guy at 10:01AM on 07/21/09
I've seen "Allergy Alert - May contain nuts" on all the nut bins in the bulk section of the grocery store.
Of course, anyone who reads notalwaysright.com with any regularity will know that there are a lot of people out there who don't understand how nuts could possibly aggravate a nut allergy, or why a vegetarian shouldn't order something with chicken in it, or that Clamato has both clam and tomato juice in it, and therefore should not be consumed by people with a shellfish (or tomato) allergy.
Bottom line; there are some stooopid people out there, and if there's a warning label for some ridiculous misuse of any product, then it's probably safe to assume that some idiot has already tested out the particular extreme application of a similar product, and we get to reap the rewards of amusing warnings everywhere.
kevster at 10:54AM on 07/21/09
We live in a sue-happy society that has warning labels on hot coffee containers that the liquid inside may be hot...this was the next step.
People have to make labels and laws for the lowest common denominator.
Cassaendra at 12:31PM on 07/21/09
Oh, and I forgot, along these lines, also in Tesco, I once picked up a cake, that had a sticker stuck to the bottom that read "do not turn cake upside down."
Oops!
Amy
Baking and Mistaking
cool2bars at 2:11PM on 07/21/09
@Adam - I do some food labelling (regulatory wise) up North in Beaver-Country and this would be an instance where it wouldn't be required as a warning due to the fact that it is labelled as the common name.
I can't say the same about the FDA or Ireland; not sure how they work.
My guess is this labeller/manufacturer just wanted to play the labelling game safe hahahahah
cute little find adam
hungrychristel at 2:53PM on 07/21/09
Is this some kind of yolk? Nah...no doubt some legal poacher whipped up a plan to live the life of luxury. Sounds like his plans are scrambled now. (I crack myself up)
finewinendine at 9:14PM on 07/21/09
I miss Tesco sometimes. I lived in Ireland for a year and even though it's massive, impersonal and sometimes ghetto they really do have a lot good stuff to offer at decent prices. I miss the Bird's Eye potato waffles too. So good.
kimbodian at 9:48AM on 07/22/09