AllergiesKeep up with undeclared allergens
Updated September 2026 · Sourced from Health Canada and the CFIA
Undeclared allergens represent nearly 40% of all food recalls issued in Canada. So far in 2026, there have been 30 recalls for undeclared priority allergens — that is an allergen warning every 8 days.
How can consumers keep themselves protected? How can restaurants, cafes and food businesses ensure they are safe from contaminants in foods they serve? Just a few hours of delay might mean unknown exposure to these allergens.
The media and the government are inefficient in disseminating critical recall information to consumers. Often times it takes days or weeks before a major recall is announced by the media.
Consumers are asked to be proactive, but they are at the mercy of slow channels to receive important news. Some recalls aren't even mentioned anywhere except official channels.
30 allergen recalls so far in 2026.
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Recall Monitor can help you keep track of active recalls for allergens, keeping you and your customers safe.
Businesses can serve their customers better and avoid costly liability issues by protecting themselves against recalls on foods with undeclared allergens. Oversights can cause huge issues, like the case of a Quebec waiter arrested after seafood puts allergic customer in coma or the Man with nut allergy wins cheesecake lawsuit.
Here are some examples of common food allergens and their effects on those with allergies, as designated by Health Canada.
Egg protein is frequently omitted from ingredient labels on imported baked goods, noodles, dressings, and confectionery products.
Eggs are one of the most common allergy-causing foods for children. Learn why eggs are a priority allergen.
Peanuts are a leading cause of severe food-induced anaphylaxis. Recalls occur when shared production lines cross-contaminate snacks, sauces, baked goods, or seasonings without proper allergen warnings.
Even trace exposure can trigger rapid hives, airway swelling, sudden drops in blood pressure, and life-threatening anaphylaxis. Learn why peanuts are a priority food allergen.
Undeclared wheat routinely appears in packaged foods, seasonings, meat binders, and snacks mistakenly labeled as gluten-free.
For people with celiac disease or severe wheat allergies, accidental exposure causes intestinal damage, chronic inflammation, digestive distress, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
Learn why wheat and triticale are priority food allergens.
Undeclared milk proteins (casein, whey) are among the most frequently recalled allergens in Canada, often hiding in dairy-free desserts, processed meats, chips, and dark chocolate.
Milk allergy can trigger hives, severe respiratory distress, gastrointestinal symptoms, and anaphylaxis in children and adults. Learn why milk is a priority allergen.
Soy lecithin, soy flour, and hydrolyzed soy protein are widely used in food manufacturing, leading to frequent recalls when omitted from bilingual packaging.
Symptoms range from oral itching and eczema to breathing difficulty. Learn why soy is a priority food allergen.
Health Canada also mandates strict warnings for tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts), sesame, mustard, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and sulphites. Unlabeled traces in prepared sauces, condiments, and imported snacks trigger constant recall alerts.
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Related recall guides
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Information presented from Recalls and Safety Alerts dataset, provided by the Government of Canada through the Open Government initiative and is subject to the Open Government License.
You can access this data free of charge via Recall Monitor, or through the Healthy Canadians website.
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