New rules tackle risks of life-threatening food

By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter

Seven-year-old Catherine Pask's life was put in danger by a noodle manufacturer's failure to list all the ingredients on its product's label.

The Wellington girl, who has a history of food allergies, had to be given anti-histamines and spend a night in hospital after reacting to egg in the noodles.

"When your child is potentially going to die right in front of your eyes it is very frightening," said Catherine's mother, Alison Pask.

It was the first time she had used the High Mark noodles. As usual, she had carefully read the packet's label and noted it did not disclose eggs were an ingredient.

"We had them for tea and within probably 10 minutes Catherine started to react."

Her lips swelled, her nose blocked, she broke out in a skin rash and suffered excruciating stomach pains and diarrhoea.

After taking antihistamines Catherine was rushed to hospital by ambulance, staying overnight.

After Mrs Pask called High Mark Foods, the company quickly recalled its crispy noodles and corrected the ingredients list.

A company manager told the Herald the labelling mistake occurred during the switch to labels intended to comply with new food rules that came into force last December.

Catherine, who is also allergic to nuts, has suffered the most severe form of allergic reaction, called anaphylactic shock, about once a year.

The first time was when she was 13 months, after eating scrambled eggs. She stopped breathing and her heart rate dropped.

Six to 8 per cent of children have a food allergy but most outgrow it, often by the age of 8.

Now almost 8 herself, Catherine's reactions have become less severe.

"The huge concern to us is that every exposure to egg really does reduce the chances of outgrowing the allergy," said Mrs Pask.

"That's why we are so careful not to expose her to egg."

Allergy New Zealand president Natalie Lloyd said the new labelling regime was a great improvement, but people with food allergies still were not safe.

"It is almost more dangerous for people with food allergy because they have a false sense of security, having expected everything to be 100 per cent overnight."

Most manufacturers had embraced the new requirements, but some seemingly failed to appreciate the dangers of mis-labelling, she said.

"We don't want to have a tragedy to wake everyone up to this."

And food labels stating that the food "may contain" peanuts or another allergen were worrying, as they encouraged people to make a poorly informed risk assessment.

Catherine's latest brush with eggs has made Mrs Pask even more wary of unfamiliar foods.

"It has to be tried and true now."

Food labelling rules

* Under new food labelling rules manufacturers must disclose even tiny amounts of common allergens, including nuts, peanuts, dairy products, seafood, eggs, sesame seeds, soy beans, gluten, sulphites and some bee products

* The allergen must be declared on the label for most prepackaged foods, even if it is only part of a food-processing aid

* Noodle meals, sponges, sweets, peanut snack bars and biscuits have been pulled from shops because allergens were either inadequately disclosed or not disclosed