Food Allergen Labeling and consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA). According to an article by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the law requires “that food labels identify the food source names of all major food allergens used to make the food” (Dept. of HHS, 2010). Both the common name of the ingredient and the allergens food source name must be listed on the packaging (i.e. lecithin followed by ‘soy’ in parentheses).

However, marketing is magic! Magic at making you think a product is safer or healthier than it appears. For example, my husband ordered ant spray online, sprayed the entire kitchen, and I almost died. My eyes, nose and throat were burning. I felt like my lungs were going to collapse! My head was spinning and my skin was crawling. After watching me over dramatize my symptoms for a few minutes, my husband said, “I’m not sure why you are having a reaction. IT”S ORGANIC!”

Well, he fell for it hook, line, and sinker! The label had “natural” plastered all over it. Not “organic”, but “natural”. To my husband and most of the general public they are one in the same. However, “organic” food items are government regulated while any Tom, Dick or Harry could plaster “natural” all over heroin and market it as a good-for-you product, because it originates from poppy seeds. (Did you know that the refinement process of poppy seed to heroin is identical to the refinement of cane to sugar. No wonder sugar is addictive. It has the same neurological triggers on the brain.)

There are very little regulations on labeling packaged items, “gluten free”, “dairy free”, “all natural”, “whole grain”, etc. So my best advice to you is to check and DOUBLE check the product ingredient list. You’d be surprised how many “gluten free” items I’ve purchased that in fact contain gluten. As of August 5, 2014 the FDA defined “gluten-free” for voluntary use in the labeling of food. The food must meet the requirement of less than 20 ppm gluten. (FDA, 2016) I will say this over and over again. If you have any doubts, don’t. Nothing taste as good as healthy feels!!!!

Check out my Ebook “What Do You Eat” for a reference guide on de-coding gluten containing ingredients and other food allergens.