What does "hidden allergens" mean?

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It is particularly important for children and adolescents to be aware of "hidden allergens" in different foods, i.e. allergens in foods that are not visually seen or fully declared. This group of young people is especially vulnerable to commercially prepared foods where the risk of hidden allergens is greatest. It is therefore important to educate patients to read and understand food labels. Unfortunately, there are examples of misleading food labels and incomplete lists of ingredients. There are also examples of cross-contamination of food. Since accurate labels alone will not suffice, patients (and others responsible for caring for the young) must be equipped and taught to manage their acute, unexpected anaphylactic allergic reactions to ingested allergens. Peanut, nuts, milk, egg, and seafood are the foods most often implicated in unexpected anaphylactic reactions.

 

Examples of "hidden allergens" and where they can be found:

AllergensFood
Anisecandy, liqueurs, perfumes, pastry
Antibioticscow's milk
Carobfruit juices, marmalade, jelly, chocolate substitutes
Casein"butter substitute", sausage, canned fish, processed meat, candy
Chickenham
Eggpasta, meatballs
Fruitsjuices, soft drinks
Glutena protein in cereals, bread, sausage, etc.
Guar gumsalad dressing, toothpaste, yoghurt
Gum Arabiccandy
Milksorbet (contamination)
Moldsnuts, citrus fruits (contamination)
Nutsice cream, pastry, chocolate
Other milk proteins"dairy-free", "hypoallergenic formulas"
Peanutpastry, peanut butter, candy, etc.
Soy beanhamburgers, minced meat, hot chocolate
Spicesprocessed food, restaurant food
Yeastbakery products, beer, mayonnaise, ketchup, products with vinegar