This hidden food label danger almost cost a teenager’s life! A warning to all with dietary restrictions
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For individuals with dietary restrictions, shopping for groceries and preparing meals can be daunting. Whether due to food allergies, intolerances, or medical conditions, these restrictions require a vigilant eye on the ingredients of every product consumed.
In some cases, even a small amount of an allergen or certain ingredients can trigger a severe reaction, putting the individual's life in danger.
What started as a seemingly innocent dinner quickly descended into a nightmare after a 14-year-old’s life-threatening allergic reaction resulted from a small detail on a food label missed by his mother.
Joanne Hagiliassis’ son is allergic to wheat and nuts, and so she usually takes extra precautions when it comes to reading food labels and preparing meals.
On February 8, the unsuspecting family made the mistake of assuming Woolworths’ Macro Free Range Australian Chicken Breast mini kebabs were made in the same way as the single packs of chicken breast she usually buys.
Unfortunately, the chicken kebabs contain a binding agent which includes wheat - one of the top eight allergens - and despite having a warning on the back of the packaging, as recommended by Food Standards ANZ, it wasn’t immediately obvious to the family.
Ms Hagiliassis shared: ‘When you live with food allergies you spend your whole life being very vigilant and trying to check labels to keep your child safe because the wrong ingredient can be fatal.’
'A lot of the time meat or chicken and other one-ingredient foods don't have an allergy label at all because they're one-ingredient, so I made the mistake to assume it had no label.'
Unfortunately, the mistake resulted in her son going into a terrifying anaphylactic shock and being hospitalised – an experience he is still 'healing' from today.
The mother continued: ‘The trauma of having an anaphylactic reaction, going to hospital, having an EpiPen and then another one in the ambulance stays with you for a while.’
Fortunately, after spending a night in the hospital, the 14-year-old survived the allergic reaction and was discharged, but with a newfound food aversion to chicken.
Emphasising the seriousness of the incident, Ms Hagiliassis, who is also the founder of the charitable organisation Anaphylaxis Network Australia, urged people to check food labels diligently as the situation could occur to anyone.
She also claimed that other food allergies or coeliac community members believed the product was safe.
‘Families came forward and told me they made the same mistake,’ the mum shared.
Ms Hagiliassis issued a plea to Woolworths to make its labels 'more obvious' in order to help 'prevent other families from having serious reactions'.
‘I feel that our food labelling is good in Australia.’
‘I understand Woolworths did the minimum legally required thing to put the label on the back, but my concern is that this product was misleading.’
Woolworths took the plea seriously, making changes to the packaging in March. The new label now contains a large warning on the front of the packet stating the product contains wheat and gluten.
A spokesperson said: ‘We’ve taken the opportunity to update the packaging of our Macro Free Range Australian Chicken Breast mini kebabs.’
‘A new label stating the product contains wheat and gluten has been placed on the front of the packaging. This change has been in stores since March 2023.’
‘We encourage customers to check product packaging for a full list of ingredients before purchasing to ensure they adhere to dietary requirements or preferences.’
Ms Hagiliassis expressed her relief that the retailer took the matter seriously when asked how she felt about the change.
She remarked: ‘I'm glad they've taken the viewpoint that it could be potentially dangerous, or even fatal for someone who has that product.’
‘I'm just lucky my son survived the reaction. Anaphylaxis can be fatal, so it's very serious for us, and I'm glad they've done what I've asked them to do to make [the label] more obvious.’
This is not the first time a labelling mistake has endangered a consumer’s life. In this article, we shared how thousands of customers were put at risk due to a labelling mishap in a packet of instant noodles.
Members, this story is a stark reminder of how important it is to read food labels meticulously, particularly regarding allergens.
Over nine years, there have been 112 fatalities related to anaphylaxis in Australia, and thousands more individuals have been hospitalised due to food allergies and food-borne illnesses.
Make sure you’ve checked the ingredients before buying any food item, and if you can, contact the manufacturer directly to double-check if the product suits you.
Remember, even if that product was safe for you last time, it’s always possible that the formula has been changed or updated.
Should Woolworths and other retailers review the labelling of allergens in their products? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Also, if you or someone you know is dealing with food allergies or sensitivities, please share this article with them.
In some cases, even a small amount of an allergen or certain ingredients can trigger a severe reaction, putting the individual's life in danger.
What started as a seemingly innocent dinner quickly descended into a nightmare after a 14-year-old’s life-threatening allergic reaction resulted from a small detail on a food label missed by his mother.
Joanne Hagiliassis’ son is allergic to wheat and nuts, and so she usually takes extra precautions when it comes to reading food labels and preparing meals.
On February 8, the unsuspecting family made the mistake of assuming Woolworths’ Macro Free Range Australian Chicken Breast mini kebabs were made in the same way as the single packs of chicken breast she usually buys.
The mum overlooked the allergen warning on the pack of Woolworths Free Range Australian Chicken Breast mini kebabs. Credit: Woolworths.
Unfortunately, the chicken kebabs contain a binding agent which includes wheat - one of the top eight allergens - and despite having a warning on the back of the packaging, as recommended by Food Standards ANZ, it wasn’t immediately obvious to the family.
Ms Hagiliassis shared: ‘When you live with food allergies you spend your whole life being very vigilant and trying to check labels to keep your child safe because the wrong ingredient can be fatal.’
'A lot of the time meat or chicken and other one-ingredient foods don't have an allergy label at all because they're one-ingredient, so I made the mistake to assume it had no label.'
Unfortunately, the mistake resulted in her son going into a terrifying anaphylactic shock and being hospitalised – an experience he is still 'healing' from today.
The mother continued: ‘The trauma of having an anaphylactic reaction, going to hospital, having an EpiPen and then another one in the ambulance stays with you for a while.’
Fortunately, after spending a night in the hospital, the 14-year-old survived the allergic reaction and was discharged, but with a newfound food aversion to chicken.
Wheat is one of the most common food allergens in Australia. Credit: Seniors Discount Club.
Emphasising the seriousness of the incident, Ms Hagiliassis, who is also the founder of the charitable organisation Anaphylaxis Network Australia, urged people to check food labels diligently as the situation could occur to anyone.
She also claimed that other food allergies or coeliac community members believed the product was safe.
‘Families came forward and told me they made the same mistake,’ the mum shared.
Ms Hagiliassis issued a plea to Woolworths to make its labels 'more obvious' in order to help 'prevent other families from having serious reactions'.
‘I feel that our food labelling is good in Australia.’
‘I understand Woolworths did the minimum legally required thing to put the label on the back, but my concern is that this product was misleading.’
Woolworths took the plea seriously, making changes to the packaging in March. The new label now contains a large warning on the front of the packet stating the product contains wheat and gluten.
A spokesperson said: ‘We’ve taken the opportunity to update the packaging of our Macro Free Range Australian Chicken Breast mini kebabs.’
‘A new label stating the product contains wheat and gluten has been placed on the front of the packaging. This change has been in stores since March 2023.’
‘We encourage customers to check product packaging for a full list of ingredients before purchasing to ensure they adhere to dietary requirements or preferences.’
Ms Hagiliassis expressed her relief that the retailer took the matter seriously when asked how she felt about the change.
She remarked: ‘I'm glad they've taken the viewpoint that it could be potentially dangerous, or even fatal for someone who has that product.’
‘I'm just lucky my son survived the reaction. Anaphylaxis can be fatal, so it's very serious for us, and I'm glad they've done what I've asked them to do to make [the label] more obvious.’
This is not the first time a labelling mistake has endangered a consumer’s life. In this article, we shared how thousands of customers were put at risk due to a labelling mishap in a packet of instant noodles.
Members, this story is a stark reminder of how important it is to read food labels meticulously, particularly regarding allergens.
Over nine years, there have been 112 fatalities related to anaphylaxis in Australia, and thousands more individuals have been hospitalised due to food allergies and food-borne illnesses.
Make sure you’ve checked the ingredients before buying any food item, and if you can, contact the manufacturer directly to double-check if the product suits you.
Remember, even if that product was safe for you last time, it’s always possible that the formula has been changed or updated.
Should Woolworths and other retailers review the labelling of allergens in their products? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Also, if you or someone you know is dealing with food allergies or sensitivities, please share this article with them.
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