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Just as I predicted, food manufacturers would react to the new labeling laws 
by "over labeling" to protect themselves from litigation.  Over labeling is 
a practice of exaggerating potential risks such as: "may contain peanuts" 
when it doesn't even have a trace, or "dry clean only" when an item could be 
machine washed.  Over labeling protects the manufacturer from returns, 
complaints, lawsuits, etc.

Now I'm seeing it in our food labeling.  For six years I've eaten Trader 
Joe's sesame rice crackers without a single reaction.  Suddenly just a few 
months ago, a warning appeared on the label of the crackers stating:  "Made 
on equipment shared with wheat, milk and tree nuts."  I still eat the 
crackers nearly every day & just as in the last five years, I've had no 
reaction whatsoever.  (And I'm one of those who severely reacts to the 
slightest trace of gluten.)

So for the most part, I feel like I'm right back where I was when I started 
the GF diet 6 years ago: not knowing whether labeling can be trusted or not.

Valerie in Tacoma

Visit the Celiac Web Page at Http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/index.html
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