Milk Is the Most Reported Undeclared Allergen in the Third Annual Reportable Food Registry Report

In May 2013, the FDA released its third annual Reportable Food Registry Report, for the twelve months ending September 27, 2012. The FDA requires food companies to inform the agency about any foods that have been manufactured and released for sale that have a reasonable probability of being hazardous to human health (“reportable foods”). Once identified, the FDA works with growers and manufacturers to reduce the risk of harm. The Reportable Food Registry is an invaluable tool for maintaining a safe food supply.

In the 2012 report, undeclared allergens were the primary hazard, accounting for 37.9% of the total reports. Of the 85 reports citing undeclared allergens, 35 were for milk and milk-derived ingredients – more than peanuts/tree nuts, eggs and soy combined. The report also names the types of foods that were most likely to contain undeclared allergens: the top three types of foods were Bakery, Chocolate/Confections/Candy, and Dairy. For each of these three types of food, undeclared milk and milk-derived ingredients were the most common reason.

Though it might seem odd for dairy to contain “undeclared milk-derived ingredients,” this report illuminates an alarming trend in the dairy industry: dairy manufacturers are adding more and more processed, artificial ingredients to the milk sold in stores.

Click to read more about the third annual Reportable Food Registry Report.

The Campaign for Real Milk is a project of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nutrition education non-profit. Donate to help us continue the research work started by Dr. Weston A. Price.