Myth: 'May contain' is mandatory on labeling

MYTH: If there is a risk of cross-contamination with allergens, it is mandatory to mention on the label that “may contain traces of [allergen]”. If it doesn't say "may contain" it's safe.

FACT: The “may contain” statement, commonly called Preventive Labeling, is not mandatory. Brands and manufacturers may choose to use these types of statements on a VOLUNTARY basis to alert consumers to the possible inadvertent presence of an allergen that is not on the ingredients list (1,2). Cross-contamination can occur during food processing and packaging in facilities that handle food with allergens and/or share equipment, for example.
Furthermore, there is no legal limit beyond which it is mandatory to mention the unintentional presence of an allergen on the label (1). Only 2 of the 14 main allergens have defined a legal threshold beyond which it is mandatory to report their presence. In the case of sulfur dioxide and sulfites from 10mg/kg, and gluten from 20mg/kg, it is no longer considered gluten-free or suitable for celiac patients (3,4).
When a label does not mention statements such as “may contain…”, “produced in a factory that handles…” or “not suitable for celiacs/allergic to…”, it is recommended to contact the brand or manufacturer directly to obtain information about their labeling practices. of allergens and confirm that the product is actually safe, especially if the person who is going to ingest it is sensitive to the presence of traces.

Fidu's labeling practices are very strict: none of our products contain traces of any of the 14 main reporting allergens.
How can we guarantee this? It's simple: all our products are produced and packaged by us in our factory, from carefully selected ingredients, which we have guaranteed by our suppliers that there is no risk of cross-contamination with any of the 14 allergens. We also do not handle any other ingredients or food that may contain allergens in our facilities and equipment. Thus, we can guarantee that our products are safe even for the most sensitive.

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(1) EuroPrevall. Food Allergens. EUFICREVIEW - Reference Paper of the European Food Information Council.
(2) DunnGalvin, A., Chan, CH, Crevel, R., Grimshaw, K., Poms, R., Schnadt, S., … Roberts, G., 2015. Precautionary allergen labeling: Perspectives from key stakeholder groups. Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 70, 1039–1051.
(3) Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 of 25 October 2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union.
(4) Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 828/2014 of 30 July 2014 of the European Commission.