Allergy warning: Hidden danger in health foods
Doctors are worried that a popular ingredient used in some health foods may cause a deadly allergic reaction.
Lupin is showing up in more gluten-free products, but food safety specialists say people with nut and soybean allergies need to be cautious.
Jane Anderson is meticulous about the food in the family home.
She knows from frightening experience how serious daughter Lucy's peanut allergy can be.
"Her throat swells, her breathing is compromised, her lips become all swollen, and she gets a rash all over her body," Jane said.
"If left unattended, she would not be able to breathe and she would die."
But she never thought a simple serving of pasta could prove just as potentially deadly.
"I woke up with a really bad pain in my chest," Lucy said. "I was itchy and my fingers felt weird.
"I was really scared. I didn't know what it was because I didn't recall eating any peanuts."
Lucy's allergic reaction was caused by the Lupin flour used in the gluten-free pasta.
Lupin contains the same protein that causes allergic reaction to peanuts and soybeans, however some products containing the ingredient do not carry a warning to alert consumers of the dangers.
"It's amazing that this could have happened because it's a product out there on the shelf with no labelling," Jane said.
Lucy was revived in hospital, but it was a close call the Anderson's do not want anyone else to have to endure.
"People need to be aware that Lupin is bad for people with nut allergies," Jane said.
"Something has to change with labelling laws."
High in protein and dietary fibre, but low in GI, Lupin has been hailed as a new super food, turning up more and more as a wheat substitute in many low fat or gluten-free products.
But doctors say it can be dangerous.
"It's not fair on these parents and the children that they are potentially being exposed to something that they are allergic to," said Dr Tony Bartone of the Australian Medical Association.
Australia's food regulator has been considering listing Lupin as an allergen since March last year.
But the AMA is demanding it be added immediately to those ingredients manufacturers must list on food labels.
"Regulatory systems needs to come into play to ensure there is full disclosure of something that we know is potentially allergic and life threatening,"said Dr Bartone.
Victoria news headlines - October 20
