To me, it's exciting to discover a new food at the supermarket bearing a "peanut-free" and "tree nut-free" label.  Even more exciting is the phrase "made in a dedicated facility".  I leave the supermarket feeling especially victorious on those days.  Imagine: an absolutely safe treat from a store!

 Recently, I splurged and bought organic chocolate syrup to add to my children's milk and use as a topping on our homemade ice cream. The label stated it was "dairy free", "peanut free" and "tree nut free".  The price tag was hefty, but what a find, I thought!  When I checked the company's website, it was not clear if this syrup was made in a dedicated facility.  My email to them bounced back.  I called for clarification and was told that the company was sold a year ago.  The website still has the previous owner's telephone number for customer service, and apparently, the label has not been updated either.  Not reassuring.

This episode has made me wonder what exactly peanut-free or tree nut-free or dairy-free means.  To read the rest of this article, please visit Food Allergy Buzz.