Hidden allergen names
Hidden Allergen Names on Food Labels: What to Look For
Allergens don't always appear under their everyday names. Whey and casein are milk, semolina is wheat, arachis oil is peanut. These pages list other names for nine major allergens, taken from the list ClearaScan uses when it reads a label. No list can be complete, so always read the label too.
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Why the other names matter
Ingredient lists use technical and regional names. If you only look for the word "milk", you can miss whey; if you only look for "wheat", you can miss spelt. ClearaScan checks each label for these names automatically when the allergen is on your list.
How labels show allergens. In the UK, the 14 major allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients list, for example in bold. In the US, the nine major allergens must be named on the label, in the ingredients or in a "Contains" statement. "May contain" warnings are voluntary in both countries.
Choose an allergen
- MilkMilk can appear under many names, especially as milk proteins (casein and whey) and milk sugar (lactose).
- EggEgg is often listed by its proteins, or hidden in foods made with egg.
- Wheat and glutenGluten comes from wheat, barley and rye. Wheat itself has many forms and names.
- Soy (soya)Soy (soya in the UK) is common in processed foods, often as protein, oil, lecithin or a fermented product.
- PeanutPeanuts are legumes, not tree nuts, and appear under a few other names.
- Tree nutsTree nuts include almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews and more, and also appear in sweets and spreads.
- FishFish appears by species name and in sauces, oils and gelatine.
- ShellfishShellfish covers crustaceans and molluscs. UK labels list them as two separate allergens.
- SesameSesame is a major allergen in both the UK and the US, and appears in pastes, oils and sweets.
Questions
Does ClearaScan check for all of these names?
Yes. When you add one of these allergens to an Ingredient Guard, ClearaScan also looks for its common other names when it reads a label.
Is this list complete?
No list can be. New ingredients appear and names vary by country. Always read the label, and ask your doctor or dietitian what you need to avoid.
Sources
- Food Standards Agency: Food allergy and intolerance advice for consumers
- US Food and Drug Administration: Food Allergies
Links go to independent organisations and to each app's own pages, for the facts on this page. They have not reviewed or endorsed ClearaScan.