Food Allergies

Food allergies are on the rise in our society, affecting 7.5% of the Canadian population (2.5 million individuals). In Québec, some 300 000 people are suffering from food allergies.

Food allergies require precautions such as reading nutritional labels. Here are some practical tips to avoid problems:

Read the nutritional label

• Always take the time to read the list of ingredients to detect allergens;
• Heed the “may contain” list;
• Avoid products with no list of ingredients, such as bulk products;
• Read the list of ingredients again if you buy a new format of a product you already eat regularly. The content may have changed;
• When you purchase a product online, make sure to read its label before you eat it, as the nutritional information available online may not be up to date.

Investigate further

If you have doubts about the content of a product, contact the manufacturer. Don’t buy the product if there is no phone number to contact the manufacturer.

You can register on a food recall list service through the MAPAQ or CFIA.

A nutritionist will help you choose the right foods with regard your allergies, avoid unnecessary restrictions, and ensure you get the necessary nutrients.

The content of this article was inspired by the non-profit organization “Allergies Québec“. I recommend you consult their website for more information.

By Alyssa Fontaine, P. Dt., nutritionist for Zero Diet

The Zero Diet brand is first and foremost the conviction that healthy eating is a primary factor to attaining a healthy weight and a balanced lifestyle. Thus, we offer nutrition counselling with nutritionists who are members of the OPDQ with our Zero Diet nutrition program in our centers and in companies. We have also developed a healthy frozen food product line that fulfills rigorous nutritional criteria as well as two healthy Zero Diet cookbooks.

Photo credit: Pexel

Food Allergies is a post from Nautilus Plus. The Nautilus Plus blog aims to help people in their journey to fitness through articles on training, nutrition, motivation, exercise and healthy recipes.
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