Brewers get exemption from allergy label rules

[mr x]

The beer-makers argue some of the smaller breweries have spent millions of dollars on painted bottles that would have to be replaced if they must be updated to include an ingredients list. They also say every beer drinker knows what is in beer.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... le1906173/

[akr71]

They also say every beer drinker knows what is in beer.

I know, I know - its bikini clad women, shitloads of charisma, sex-appeal and fizzy bubbles! Did I get it right? Moslon/Labatts just doesn't want to put "water, corn and a single hop cone" on their packaging.

My step-mom loves beer, but goes near anyphalactic if she drinks it for the past 20 years. One doctor says its hops, one says its the yeast. Given that wine gives her problems at certain times of year, I would guess the yeast, but I'm no doctor.

As I parent with a child who has a peanut allergy, I have absolutely no problem with more and better labeling on anything that is meant to be ingested.

[mr x]

Just who are these 'smaller' breweries who will be so harmed...

[ratchet]

you know... the small ones...
labatts
molson
sleeman

[derek]

They also say every beer drinker knows what is in beer.

I know, I know - its bikini clad women, shitloads of charisma, sex-appeal and fizzy bubbles! Did I get it right? Moslon/Labatts just doesn't want to put "water, corn and a single hop cone" on their packaging.

My step-mom loves beer, but goes near anyphalactic if she drinks it for the past 20 years. One doctor says its hops, one says its the yeast. Given that wine gives her problems at certain times of year, I would guess the yeast, but I'm no doctor.

As I parent with a child who has a peanut allergy, I have absolutely no problem with more and better labeling on anything that is meant to be ingested.

I know what's in _beer_. I'm just not sure what's in the stuff the big breweries sell. That's really laughable. The brewnosers could take a reasonable guess at the contents of an unknown beer, but I'm sure the vast majority of beer drinkers don't even know that their regular beer contains corn or rice (or probably barley for that matter).

If you want to experiment on your step-mom, I'm sure we could brew her some hop-free beer. It certainly could be the hops - even a Bud should have enough hop to trigger an allergy. I would have thought that a yeast allergy would affect you no matter what time of year you were drinking wine or beer.

I have "no problem" with better labelling for allergens, but a product meant to be consumed only by adults is a little different than "may contain nuts" on a bag of cookies. Still, whether it's really micro-breweries or the big guys who complain about the cost of replacing painted bottles - that's the risk they knew they were taking when they started using them. There's _always_ the possibility that labelling regulations may change, and they're gambling that the marketing advantage of the unique bottle will be worth more than all of the extra costs - including regulation changes.

[akr71]

If you want to experiment on your step-mom, I'm sure we could brew her some hop-free beer. It certainly could be the hops - even a Bud should have enough hop to trigger an allergy. I would have thought that a yeast allergy would affect you no matter what time of year you were drinking wine or beer.

I have "no problem" with better labelling for allergens, but a product meant to be consumed only by adults is a little different than "may contain nuts" on a bag of cookies. Still, whether it's really micro-breweries or the big guys who complain about the cost of replacing painted bottles - that's the risk they knew they were taking when they started using them. There's _always_ the possibility that labelling regulations may change, and they're gambling that the marketing advantage of the unique bottle will be worth more than all of the extra costs - including regulation changes.

I whole heartedly agree about the painted bottles. They've already willingly taken on the added cost of non-standard bottles.

I've offered to make my step-mom a scotch ale with heather and she was quite intregued. She's in Ontario, so I'm not in a hurry, since transportation is an issue. Her doctor believes that its tannins that cause her problems with wine... I should send her a bottle of mead and see how things go.

[mr x]

Not to mention, those painted bottles don't last forever. Not even close. The new labels can easily be phased in with new orders.

[derek]

Or just add a small label with the required allergen info - it's common enough to see that sort of thing on imported painted bottles.

[mr x]

Yup.

[BobbyOK]

Any brewery that would have to spend millions to do anything isn't small. The big brewers have totally used that language to pin this on the small guys when only one Canadian brewer (that I'm aware of anyway) has painted bottles - Steamwhistle. Who isn't that small anymore.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

mill street has painted bottles too. i got about a hundred i use for bottling.. painted labels are nice

[BobbyOK]

mill street has painted bottles too. i got about a hundred i use for bottling.. painted labels are nice

Forgot about them - but they're another one that isn't that small anymore. They're basically cross country now and if they can afford to advertise during the Olympics they can afford to change their bottles. I also forgot that Unibroue does some painted bottles too, and Great Lakes possibly still does for their seasonals.

[mr x]

Moosehead used to use painted bottles at one time. Don't remember if they ditched them.