why does everything "may contain nuts"

Mister_Pister · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:21

Surely they dont make halls soothers in the same place as peanut butter?

Kell_ee001 · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:22

Covers themselves as many people are extremely allergic and a lot of things are made in factories where nuts are present for other products.

Gilly · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:23

So they can't get sued.

Borris · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:23

It means that they cannot guarantee that there has been no nut contact.

Mr_L · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:23

Because some people have severe reactions to nuts and a lot of things have nuts in.

It's used as a disclaimer really but, I'm not sure how effective that would be in court.

Le_Petit_Lapin · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:24

All I can think of is a pair of boxers that reads "May Contain Nuts" accoss the front.

merlin · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:24

Borris said:
It means that they cannot guarantee that there has been no nut contact.

PMSL

Davey_Pitch · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:26

Gilly said:
So they can't get sued.

Zip · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:27

Its because some of the convayor belts they use also get used for some products that do use nuts in them and inbetween changing from the nut items and the none nut items they just give it a quick wipe down and sometimes small traces of nuts get left behind and can touch or get on the nutless item.

Some people are so allergic to nuts they cant even kiss someone that have eaten them from hours before because they can have a reaction and die

Mister_Pister · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:38

Fair enough - but people are allergic to loads of different things. However I suppose nuts are quite a big one.

timbob · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:47

I'm allergic to peanuts (and all other nuts of that family - cashews, pecans, brazil nuts etc.), but not extremely so. I have to eat something with nut dust on it (i.e. raisins out of a mix bag of raisins and nuts) to have a reaction.

I used to keep an eye out on food I was buying, but about 5 or 6 years ago, it became impossible to buy *anything* that didn't have "May contain traces of nuts" on it. Cereals, choccy bars, cakes, puddings, ready meals.....

I gave up in the end, unless it's actually a box of nuts, I'll buy it and eat it. A lot of restuarants cover themselves, saying pretty much anything might contain nuts, but again - unless it's a pecan pie, I'll eat it.

And I haven't had a reaction in over 10 years now, yey!

trojan698 · 17 Feb 2006 at 14:53

My mate is extremely allergic to nuts, he once "got lucky" with a girl who'd just consumed a bag of peanuts, nothing a trip to the A&E didn't sort out though

taliesyn · 17 Feb 2006 at 15:12

Mister_Pister said:
Fair enough - but people are allergic to loads of different things. However I suppose nuts are quite a big one.

Some prawns I bought had "Warning : contains Seafood" on the packet! I kid you not

SourChipmunk · 17 Feb 2006 at 15:17

Mister_Pister said:
Fair enough - but people are allergic to loads of different things. However I suppose nuts are quite a big one.

Big indeed - the allergic reaction is usually fatal. Unlike other allergies where you just swell up and turn red or something.

kitten_caboodle · 17 Feb 2006 at 15:18

You can thank the compensation culture we live in for these sad labels :rolleyes:

daz · 17 Feb 2006 at 15:22

A peanut is actually a legume.

iBankAllDay · 17 Feb 2006 at 15:22

kitten_caboodle said:
You can thank the compensation culture we live in for these sad labels

Those damn people with allergies go and spoil it for the rest of us once again! :mad:

gord · 17 Feb 2006 at 15:25

Because its cheaper to put a few words on a package than test food accurately.

Mister_Pister · 17 Feb 2006 at 15:29

gord said:
Because its cheaper to put a few words on a package than test food accurately.

or buy some cillit bang for your conveyer belts..

class about the seafood warning on the prawns

gord · 17 Feb 2006 at 15:30

Mister_Pister said:
or buy some cillit bang for your conveyer belts..

Please tell me your not in the food hygiene industry?