On January 1, 2006, meat and food processors must disclose in simple language whether their products contain peanuts, wheat, shellfish, tree nuts, milk, soybeans, eggs, or other ingredients that could cause allergic reactions in people.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates two percent of adults and five percent of children suffer from food allergies. Each year, about 30,000 people require emergency room treatment for food-allergy reactions. Approximately 150 people die each year from food allergies.

The 2004 Food Allergen labeling and Consumer Protection Act – which mandates the expanded labeling - was sparked by evidence that many food labels either didn't include the allergens in their listed ingredients or listed them using names not easily recognizable by consumers. For example, a 1999 FDA study in Minnesota and Wisconsin found 25 percent of the sampled baked goods, ice cream, and candy failed to list peanuts or eggs as ingredients.

Food labels must now list the common name of the product as well as the name of the specific allergen it contains. For example, a product containing the milk protein casein must list both “milk” and “casein” on its label. Labels also must specify the type of fish, shellfish, or tree nut the product contains.