Undeclared Allergens Explained: Food Recalls in Canada
Undeclared allergens are the leading cause of food recalls in Canada. This guide explains what they are, why they're dangerous, and how to protect yourself and your family.
What Are Undeclared Allergens?
An undeclared allergen is a food allergen that's present in a product but not listed on the ingredient label. This happens when allergens accidentally get into food during manufacturing or when labels contain errors.
In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issues recalls whenever undeclared allergens are discovered. These recalls are serious because people with allergies rely entirely on ingredient labels to avoid potentially life-threatening reactions.
You can browse current food recalls to see which products have been recalled for allergen issues.
Canada's 11 Priority Allergens
Canadian food labelling regulations require manufacturers to clearly declare the following priority allergens:
These allergens cause the vast majority of severe allergic reactions in Canada. When any of these are present but not declared on the label, the CFIA issues a recall.
Gluten Note
Gluten itself isn't a separate priority allergen, but wheat (which contains gluten) is. Products may also voluntarily declare "contains gluten" for people with celiac disease.
How Undeclared Allergens Happen
Undeclared allergens can end up in food products through several common pathways:
Cross-Contamination
Shared equipment or production lines can transfer allergens between products. For example, a facility that makes peanut butter on the same line as other spreads.
Supplier Errors
Ingredients received from suppliers may contain allergens not disclosed to the manufacturer, leading to incorrect final product labels.
Recipe Changes
When recipes are updated (e.g., changing from one spice blend to another), labels may not be updated to reflect new allergen content.
Packaging Errors
Wrong products placed in wrong packages, or incorrect labels applied during packaging.
Allergic Reaction Symptoms
Allergic reactions can range from mild to life-threatening. Symptoms may appear within minutes to hours after eating.
Mild to Moderate
- • Hives, rash, or itchy skin
- • Tingling or itching in the mouth
- • Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
- • Nasal congestion, sneezing
Severe (Anaphylaxis)
- • Difficulty breathing, wheezing
- • Swelling of throat or tongue
- • Dizziness, fainting, loss of consciousness
- • Rapid or weak pulse
Emergency Action
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Use an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) if available and call 911 immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve.
What to Do If You Have Allergies
- 1Sign up for recall alerts
Get free email alerts when food recalls are issued, especially for allergen-related recalls.
- 2Always read labels carefully
Check ingredient lists every time, even for products you've bought before. Recipes change.
- 3Check "may contain" warnings
Precautionary statements like "may contain traces of" indicate possible cross-contamination.
- 4Carry emergency medication
If you have severe allergies, always carry your epinephrine auto-injector and ensure it's not expired.
- 5Report reactions
If you have an allergic reaction to a food product, report it to the CFIA and your healthcare provider.
Common Questions
What does "undeclared allergen" mean on a recall notice?
An undeclared allergen means a priority allergen (like peanuts, milk, or wheat) is present in the food but not listed on the ingredient label. This is dangerous for people with allergies who rely on labels to avoid reactions.
Which allergens must be declared in Canada?
Canadian law requires food labels to declare 11 priority allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat/triticale, soy, sesame, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, mustard, and sulphites (10+ ppm). These cause the majority of severe allergic reactions.
How do undeclared allergens end up in food?
Common causes include cross-contamination during manufacturing, incorrect ingredient lists from suppliers, recipe changes not updated on labels, and packaging errors where the wrong product is placed in the wrong package.
Official food recall and allergen information is published by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Visit CFIA