What Packaging and Labels Can Tell You

Special Health Concerns

People with special health concerns need to pay particular attention to labels and packaging. Talk to your doctor or health care provider for more details specific to your condition. Here's what to look for and why if you:

• Have sensitive skin
  • Look for: alcohol, witch hazel, peppermint, fragrance, menthol, eucalyptus oil, lactic acid, and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).
  • Why: These ingredients can irritate sensitive skin or exacerbate certain skin conditions such as rosacea.
• Are on a gluten-free diet:
  • Look for: wheat, barley, rye, semolina, bulgur, durum flour, graham flour, kamut, and spelt. Gluten is also found in unexpected places such as soy sauce, beer, soups, and candies. Read all ingredient labels or look for the "gluten-free" label on the packaging.
  • Why: For those with a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, eating gluten can cause troublesome symptoms.
• Are vegan:
  • Look for: casein, whey (comes from milk), gelatin, tallow, suet (comes from meat), and Natural Red 4 (also known as carmine, cochineal, or cochineal extract) – a food coloring taken from female beetles.
  • Why: Even foods that appear to be 100 percent vegan may have hidden animal derived products. Visit The Vegetarian Resource Group website for more information.
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Look for: fish with a high level of mercury (tilefish, sword fish, king mackerel, and shark); unpasteurized cheeses, milk, or juices; sushi or raw shellfish. In general, while pregnant or nursing, talk to your healthcare provider about any food- or medicine-related concerns, or before taking any supplements. Pregnancy and nursing are especially vulnerable times, when what you eat affects not just you, but your developing (or nursing) baby as well.
  • Why: Certain foods may contain harmful parasites or bacteria, such as listeria and E. coli. Eating fish that's high in mercury has been shown to affect the fetus's nervous system development. Be aware that some topical ingredients – retinoids and hydroquinone – may pass through the skin to the fetus or into breast milk.
• Have a food allergy:
  • Look for: your food allergen listed in the ingredients list of all foods you plan on eating.
  • Why: Even eating trace amounts of the allergen can be deadly if you have a severe allergy. Be aware that some foods might unexpectedly contain the allergen. Milk protein, for example, can be found in canned tuna and medications. Check your cosmetics too, especially if you have a tree nut, soy, or peanut allergy. Soy and tree nut oils are often used in cosmetics, lotions, and shampoos and can be dangerous for those suffering from severe allergies when applied topically.