Being newly diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) at high levels makes careful label reading really important — and honestly, it can feel overwhelming at first. You're not alone in this struggle!
The tricky part with vague terms like "spices," "natural flavors," or "enzymes" on labels is that they don't have to specify Show Full Answer
Being newly diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) at high levels makes careful label reading really important — and honestly, it can feel overwhelming at first. You're not alone in this struggle!
The tricky part with vague terms like "spices," "natural flavors," or "enzymes" on labels is that they don't have to specify what's actually inside them. These terms can hide mammal-derived ingredients that would trigger an AGS reaction.
Here's what to watch out for with AGS specifically:
- "Natural flavors" — can include meat-derived flavor compounds
- "Spices" or "seasoning" — may contain animal-derived ingredients
- "Enzymes" — often used in cheese and dairy production, and can be derived from animal (mammal) sources like rennet
- "Gelatin" — almost always mammal-derived
- "Natural beef flavoring" or similar — obvious red flag A MyFoodAllergyTeam member shared a great tip: using label-reading apps like Fooducate, Ipiit, and ShopWell while shopping. You enter your allergies and they help decode ingredients for you.
When in doubt, contact the manufacturer directly to ask about specific ingredients. Companies are generally required to answer allergen questions.
Some other helpful steps:
- Work closely with your allergist to get a full list of ingredients to avoid at your specific sensitivity level
- Consider seeing a registered dietitian who specializes in food allergies — they can help you navigate labels and maintain good nutrition
- Create an allergy action plan in case of accidental exposure
- Always carry your epinephrine auto-injector given your high sensitivity level
Shopping at off-peak hours can also reduce stress while you're still learning — another tip shared by a MyFoodAllergyTeam member!
June 24
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