by Carol T. Culhane, P.H.Ec. MBA
Food allergies affect an estimated 5 to 6% of Canadian children and 3 to 4% of Canadian adults. A much larger percentage of the population suffers from a food intolerance, which does not trigger a defense response from the body’s immune system following ingestion. A food intolerance, however, may exhibit symptoms similar to that of a food allergy.
Therefore, the accuracy of the ingredient information on the label of pre-packaged food is a very important safety concern for consumers.