Every time you pick up a packaged food item, you’re making a decision that could mean the difference between a safe meal and a life-threatening reaction. For the 32 million Americans with food allergies - including 5.6 million children - reading labels isn’t just a habit. It’s a survival skill. And in 2025, those labels have changed. More than ever, what’s written - and what’s left out - can save lives or put them at risk.
What’s Really in Your Food? The New Rules for Allergen Labeling
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guidance on food allergen labeling in January 2025. This isn’t a minor tweak. It’s a full rewrite of how manufacturers must declare the nine major allergens: milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame. And for the first time, you can’t just see ‘milk’ or ‘egg’ on a label anymore. You need to know which kind.
If a product contains goat milk, it must now say ‘goat milk’ - not just ‘milk.’ Same with duck eggs. If it’s shrimp, it says ‘crustacean shellfish (shrimp).’ If it’s trout, it’s labeled as ‘bony fish (trout).’ This change was made because allergies aren’t always to all forms of an allergen. Someone might react to cow’s milk but tolerate goat’s milk. Or be allergic to quail eggs but eat chicken eggs without issue. Before 2025, consumers had to call manufacturers just to find out. Now, the answer is right on the package.
Coconut Is No Longer a Tree Nut - Here’s Why It Matters
Coconut used to be grouped with tree nuts on food labels. That meant people with peanut or almond allergies were told to avoid coconut, even though it’s botanically a fruit, not a nut. The FDA removed coconut from the list of major allergens in the 2025 update. That’s good news for the 0.04% of the population with true coconut allergies - they’ll now get clearer warnings if coconut is added as a separate ingredient. But more importantly, it’s good news for millions who avoided coconut unnecessarily. No more tossing out coconut oil, milk, or flour because a label says ‘tree nuts.’ You can now make an informed choice.
Shellfish Just Got More Complicated
Shellfish is no longer one big category. The FDA now distinguishes between crustacean shellfish - like shrimp, crab, and lobster - and mollusks, which include oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops. Only crustacean shellfish are required to be labeled as major allergens. That means if you’re allergic to oysters, you’re out of luck. There’s no legal requirement to warn you.
That’s a serious gap. About 1.5 million Americans have mollusk allergies, and many don’t realize their allergy is separate from shrimp allergies. A Reddit user named ShellfishSurvivor posted in January 2025: ‘I had a reaction to clams and didn’t know I couldn’t trust labels anymore.’ This change didn’t come from safety concerns - it came from legal definitions. But the result? People are being put at risk because their allergy isn’t officially recognized on labels.
Don’t Trust ‘Free-From’ and ‘May Contain’ on the Same Package
Have you ever seen a box that says ‘Milk-Free’ at the top - and then, right below it, ‘May Contain Milk’? That used to be common. Now, it’s illegal under the new FDA guidance. You can’t claim a product is free of an allergen and then warn that it might contain it. That kind of mixed message confused consumers for years. Why would a company say ‘no milk’ and then say ‘maybe milk’? The FDA says: pick one. If you’re going to say ‘free from,’ you have to prove it - no cross-contact allowed.
This means manufacturers now need stricter cleaning procedures, separate production lines, and better testing. It’s expensive. Small companies may spend $5,000 to $15,000 per product line to comply. But for families managing allergies, it’s worth it. No more guessing. No more second-guessing labels.
What About Cross-Contact? The Gray Area
Even if a product doesn’t list an allergen as an ingredient, it might still have traces of it. That’s cross-contact - when a food touches something it shouldn’t during manufacturing. The FDA doesn’t require warning labels for this. Statements like ‘Made in a facility with peanuts’ are voluntary. But here’s the catch: if you use them, they have to be truthful. You can’t say ‘May contain nuts’ if your facility has never touched nuts. And you can’t use those statements as an excuse for poor hygiene.
Some companies abuse this loophole. They skip proper cleaning and rely on vague warnings to cover their backs. The FDA says that’s not okay. But enforcement is weak. The agency inspects only about 10% of food facilities each year. So you still need to be cautious. If you have a severe allergy, treat any ‘may contain’ warning as real - even if it’s not legally required.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Food allergies have risen 50% in children since 1997. The global market for allergen testing is growing fast - expected to hit $1.4 billion by 2029. That’s because more people are affected, and more families are demanding transparency. The FDA’s 2025 update is the most detailed labeling guidance ever issued. It’s also the most specific. The U.S. now leads the world in allergen clarity. The EU still just says ‘milk’ or ‘eggs.’ The U.S. says ‘cow’s milk’ or ‘chicken egg.’ That specificity saves lives.
But progress isn’t perfect. The exclusion of mollusks from labeling is a dangerous oversight. The voluntary nature of cross-contact warnings leaves gaps. And not every manufacturer will follow the guidance - even if it’s recommended. The FDA can’t inspect every factory. That means the burden still falls on you.
How to Stay Safe in 2025
- Always read the full ingredient list - not just the ‘Contains’ statement. The law requires allergens to be listed in the ingredients, even if they’re also in the ‘Contains’ box.
- Look for the exact animal source: ‘goat milk,’ ‘duck egg,’ ‘shrimp,’ not just ‘milk’ or ‘egg.’
- If you’re allergic to mollusks, assume any seafood product could contain them unless it’s clearly labeled otherwise.
- Never trust a ‘free-from’ claim unless you’ve verified the brand’s allergen control practices. Call them if you’re unsure.
- When in doubt, avoid the product. Even one trace can trigger a reaction in sensitive individuals.
There’s no such thing as a completely safe label. But the 2025 rules make it easier to find the safe ones. You’re not just reading a label - you’re reading a promise. And now, that promise is clearer than ever.
What’s Next? The Future of Food Allergy Labels
The FDA didn’t stop at the nine allergens. In January 2025, they also released a new framework to evaluate other potential allergens - like mustard, celery, and lupin - that are common in other countries but not yet regulated in the U.S. This means sesame, added in 2021 under the FASTER Act, might not be the last new allergen on labels.
Industry analysts predict that by 2027, 75% of major U.S. food companies will fully adopt the new labeling standards - not because they have to, but because consumers demand it. Parents are asking questions. Schools are pushing for safer options. Grocery chains are rewarding brands with clear labels.
The system isn’t flawless. But it’s moving in the right direction. And every clearer label means one less emergency room visit, one less scared parent, one more child who can safely eat lunch with friends.
Is coconut still considered a tree nut on food labels in 2025?
No. As of the FDA’s January 2025 update, coconut is no longer classified as a tree nut on food labels. It’s now treated as a separate ingredient. This change helps people with tree nut allergies avoid unnecessary restrictions, since coconut is botanically a fruit and most people with tree nut allergies can safely eat it. However, if you have a confirmed coconut allergy, you’ll still see it listed clearly in the ingredients.
Do I need to worry about mollusks like clams and oysters on food labels?
Yes, you should be very cautious. The FDA no longer requires mollusks - such as clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops - to be labeled as allergens. Only crustacean shellfish like shrimp, crab, and lobster are required to be declared. If you’re allergic to mollusks, you can’t rely on labels to warn you. Always assume seafood products may contain them unless the manufacturer confirms otherwise. Call the company or choose products labeled specifically as ‘shellfish-free’ with a clear definition.
Can a product say ‘milk-free’ and also ‘may contain milk’?
No. Under the 2025 FDA guidance, a product cannot make a ‘free-from’ claim (like ‘milk-free’) and also include a voluntary advisory statement like ‘may contain milk.’ This was a major source of confusion for consumers. If a product claims to be free of an allergen, it must be free - no cross-contact allowed. Manufacturers must now choose: either make a strong claim with strict controls, or use advisory language - but not both.
What should I do if I can’t tell what type of milk is in a product?
If the label just says ‘milk,’ it’s not compliant with 2025 standards. You should avoid it. The law now requires manufacturers to specify the animal source - like ‘cow’s milk,’ ‘goat’s milk,’ or ‘sheep’s milk.’ If you see only ‘milk,’ contact the manufacturer directly. Ask: ‘Which animal’s milk is used in this product?’ If they can’t answer clearly, don’t take the risk. Your safety depends on precise labeling.
Are all food products required to follow these new labeling rules?
Not all. The FDA’s rules apply to packaged foods, infant formula, dietary supplements, and medical foods. But they don’t cover meat, poultry, or processed egg products - those are regulated by the USDA. Also, alcohol beverages are under the TTB, which still doesn’t require allergen labeling. Always check the agency that regulates the product. If it’s not FDA-regulated, the labeling may be less strict or missing key details.
4 Comments
Laura Weemering
So… the FDA finally acknowledged that coconut isn’t a nut? Took them long enough. I’ve been avoiding coconut milk for years because of some idiotic ‘tree nut’ warning… and now I’m supposed to trust that ‘coconut’ is just… listed separately? Like, what if I’m allergic to coconut but not tree nuts? Who’s gonna explain that to me in the middle of Target while I’m holding a can of Thai curry paste? I just want to live without reading 17 paragraphs of fine print before I eat a granola bar.
Levi Cooper
Look, I get it - labels are getting more specific. But this is just bureaucratic overreach. We used to just read ‘milk’ and move on. Now we need to know if it’s goat, cow, or llama milk? Who even drinks llama milk? This isn’t safety - it’s performance activism. If you’re allergic, you should carry an EpiPen, not expect every manufacturer to become a linguist. America’s becoming a nation of hypersensitive toddlers with food allergies and a PhD in ingredient decoding.
Audrey Crothers
YESSSS this is HUGE!!! 🙌 I have a kid with a shellfish allergy and we’ve been terrified of ANY seafood product - now I know to look for ‘crustacean’ and avoid anything that just says ‘seafood’! Also, coconut being removed from tree nuts? My whole pantry is saved 😭 I just bought a new jar of coconut oil and cried happy tears. Thank you FDA for finally listening to real people. ❤️
Reshma Sinha
As someone from India where coconut is everywhere, this change makes sense. In the U.S., people treat coconut like a nut because of cultural assumptions, not science. The FDA’s update reflects actual biology, not fear-based labeling. Also, mollusks being excluded? That’s a flaw - but at least they’re open to adding more allergens later. This is the start of a smarter system. We need more data-driven labeling, not blanket warnings.