The first thing you need to know is that not all labels are 100% accurate. It is a great idea to sign up to receive allergy alerts (see Resources and Links page) and you will be notified of products that may contain traces of nuts but were not labeled with it.

In Canada, manufacturers must label priority allergens, which include peanuts and tree nuts. The amount of the allergen in quantities of 10ppm (parts per million) must be labeled. However, some manufacturers choose to label for traces of nuts no matter how minute the trace could be.

A product that you safely purchase today may become unsafe tomorrow - so be sure read every label everytime. The reverse is also true - I have come across products in the last few years that have gone from unsafe to safe.

Remember:
Every time you purchase a product, read the label. Manufacturing processes change frequently, therefore; a product that is safe today may not be safe tomorrow.

When you are reading labels, there are many things to look out for. For an extensive list, go to Terms Table.

For more info on reading labels, see the Peanut Allergy Handbook.

Labels and Recalls:
Inspection
Food Allergy Alerts
General FDA Documents
Food Inspection Agency
National Food Processors Association
Labelling News Article
Reading Labels for a Nut Free Diet