For people who have or care for someone with food allergy it is important to be aware of mistakes that can happen when shopping online for groceries.
Ingredients and allergen summary statements can usually be checked online, but it is important to also check packaged food when the groceries arrive at your home, and then again before preparing or eating food.
Sometimes the product’s list of ingredients on the supermarket or grocery store’s website is different to the ingredients on the actual product that is delivered. The source of truth is the information on the pack, not the online information.
Product brands are also sometimes substituted, despite ordering an item you have checked as safe. This means that a food product with different ingredients might be delivered to you. If you or a family member has food allergy, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia recommend to always use the NO SUBSTITUTIONS tab when doing online grocery shopping.
It is important that you check product labels 3 times for allergens:
- when shopping and ordering online;
- as you unpack grocery items at home; and
- immediately before use.