Allergy label change cuts ice cream choices

Consumers complain as production methods mean favourites are not risk-free for those allergic to nuts

NUT ALLERGY warnings have been added to previously “safe” ice cream prompting complaints from parents that their children are being unfairly denied their favourites.

A petition set up by the mother of a teenage allergy sufferer has urged Unilever to roll back changes that have seen “may contain almonds” and warnings over hazelnuts added to some of its popular ice-cream brands, including Magnum and Cornetto.

Unilever said the warnings were added as part of a new, more stringent labelling policy and that it has increased its range of ice cream suitable for those with allergies in recent years. It said consumer safety was its priority.

Angela Waters, of Nut Free Living, an online marketplace for those with allergies, started the petition. Her 19-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a nut allergy aged 11.

On the petition website, she wrote that parents and children were “upset” over the labelling changes and urged the company to make its production lines nut-free.

She said: “What is even more unfortunate is that, across the UK, Unilever dominates the market for supply to ice cream vans, cafes and other venues, leaving those with nut allergy no nutsafe ice-cream options this summer when out and about. Imagine if you were with the child that was told, sorry none of your previous choices are safe any more? Sadly, that’s now the reality for many.”

Nadim and Tanya Ednan-laperouse, whose daughter Natasha died in 2016 after eating a Pret a Manger baguette, said that “may contain” labelling is unclear for consumers and cuts off people with allergies from food they may enjoy and love.

They said: “Magnums are ubiquitous. To cut off the supply and enjoyment for thousands of children is unbelievable. Unilever are giants in the food industry and their latest stance is a poor example to others when they should be leading the industry.”

The couple founded the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, which campaigned for “Natasha’s Law”, which requires firms to have accurate food labelling.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign, a charity, said it had received queries to its helpline about the changes. A spokesman said: “We would always advise that allergic individuals take ‘May contain’ warnings seriously.”

A Unilever spokesman said: “The safety of our products is our number one priority. We have stringent measures in place to prevent the cross contamination from nuts when we manufacture our ice creams, and we always advise people to carefully read the label.

“We know there are many people in the UK & Ireland who are allergy sufferers and we have a wide range of delicious ice creams which are suitable for those with nut, dairy or gluten allergies.”

The new policy will be rolled out across all Unilever food and refreshment products across the UK.