manufacturing
Posted by Anonymous on May 29, 2007 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
Tell me something. When a product has a label/statement stating that this product was manufactured on equipment that also processes eggs or milk doesn't that mean that some eggs or milk is in the product that you just bought?
I don't buy any products that have that statement.
It means what it says. That the machinery used to manufacture the product you bought, is also used to manufacture products containing eggs and/or milk. And that some trace elements of eggs and/or milk may be found therein. But not a whole egg, or any measurable quantity of milk. This is important in terms of religious purity, for some people, or for others who have serious allergic reactions to the smallest trace of lactose or whatever it is in eggs people react to.
I buy Patak's lime pickle, which contains no nuts, and yet the label says "May contain traces of nuts" because they use the same machinery. Of course it is washed between but there may be trace nutrients left behind.
Yes, it might mean that there are very small amounts of eggs or milk in the product. It is probably intended for people with allergies, who can't handle any eggs, milk, soy, nuts, etc. etc. in their food. So they don't get sued.
It's a personal choice whether or not that means it's ok for a vegan to eat. Personally, I don't mind the possibility of trace amounts of eggs or dairy in my food. There are very few companies that can produce exclusively vegan products. Even most of the companies that are completely vegan must share equipment with other food, because these tend to be pretty small companies. I don't feel that this violates my ethics, because no animals were killed/harmed to make the product. They aren't ingredients, just residue.
That statement is more of a "CYA" disclaimer, in case someone with allergies has a reaction. If a label does not list eggs, dairy, or any derivatives in the ingredients, the item doesn't contain them, though the item may have come into contact with some residue while on shared equipment. If there is no other alternative, I'll go ahead and buy the product.
Those companies get on my nerves. I can say a whole bunch more about it but I don't want to gross anybody out.
I just want to say I don't think they should be doing that.