Many of the foods that feature printed labels with allergen warnings do not need them, it has been claimed.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland carried out a study on various types of food products for sale in supermarkets and other retailers.

It was discovered that 94 per cent of the items that had a warning sticker on did not contain even a trace of the substance shoppers were being alerted to.

Only five out of the 75 samples carrying a nut label actually tested positive for peanut.

Professor Alan Reilly warned that the overuse of these printed labels could mean that people with allergies are having their diet unnecessarily restricted because companies are not carrying out proper checks.

"The results of this study serve to highlight that there is an element of defensive labelling by the food industry when it comes to food allergens," he added.

Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation, the Children's Food Campaign and Which? recently wrote to government health secretary Andrew Lansley in a bid to encourage the government to enforce easy-to-understand food labels.

Denny Bros Ltd, 05 July 2011