11/11/2026
🥜 “May contain traces of nuts”... does that mean my child can’t eat it?
If you’ve ever stood in the supermarket aisle wondering whether a food is safe for your little one, you’re not alone! 💛
Precautionary allergen labelling (PAL), such as “may contain”, means there is a possibility of accidental cross-contamination during food production. These are voluntary statements made by food suppliers and the Food Standards Code does not regulate them.
But here’s something important that many parents don’t realise: the advice isn’t always the same for every type of food allergy.
For children with IgE-mediated food allergies, foods carrying a PAL warning for their allergen should be avoided due to the risk of a potentially serious reaction.
However, for some children with non-IgE-mediated allergies, foods with PAL statements may be suitable to include as part of their dietary management.
It’s not always black and white!
What’s YOUR approach to ‘may contain’ foods?
👇 Comment below:
AVOID – We avoid all PAL foods.
INCLUDE – We include some PAL foods.
IT DEPENDS – It depends on the type of allergy and medical advice.
There’s no judgement here – we’re here to learn from each other!
If you’re unsure what your child can safely eat, don’t guess. Avoid the product until you’ve sought appropriate advice.
👩⚕️ Our experienced paediatric dietitians can help you understand food labels, navigate food allergies and make sure your little one has a safe, balanced and varied diet.
📍 Supporting families across Perth.
Book an appointment with our paediatric dietitians today.
📍 Perth | 💻 Telehealth Australia-wide
☎ 0861147167
✉ [email protected]
💻 https://advanceddietitiansgroup.com.au/
