No one else in our family has food allergies, but my daughter's mouth itches when she eats cantaloupe. It's annoying, but not life-threatening, such as some reactions to food.

Food allergies — when the body's immune system mounts an attack against certain foods or food ingredients — affects about 2 percent of adults and 5 percent of children in the United States, according to recent estimates. Food allergies can cause skin to swell or break out and noses to run or become congested. The most serious allergic reaction is life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

That's why it's important for people with food allergies to know what's in the food they eat.

Welcome the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, a new law to help people with food allergies to know exactly what lurks in the food they eat.

Nine of every 10 food allergies, say experts, can be traced to proteins and other substances in eight major food categories: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish such as crab, lobster and shrimp; peanuts, wheat, soybeans and tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pecans. This new legislation requires manufacturers to identify on the label — in plain English — any of these high-risk-for-allergy foods.

No longer, for example, can a label simply say "flavorings" or "colorings" if these ingredients contain any of the Big 8 food allergens. In addition, products that contain fish or nuts must state clearly on the label what kind of fish or nuts they contain.

My granola bar, for example, has this statement added to the ingredient list: "Contains almond, milk, wheat, peanuts and sunflower ingredients." That's pretty clear.

There are a few glitches, however. Foods labeled "non-dairy" could still contain proteins derived from milk, such as casein. And unless you're a food scientist, you won't be able to identify the culprit. I took a look at a packet of coffee creamer and now, thanks to FALCPA, the ingredient label says clearly that "sodium caseinate" is "a milk derivative."

One caution. The law for plainly listing the presence of these allergens applies only to products labeled on or after Jan. 1, 2006. Don't be too trusting of the information you get from foods that may have been labeled before that time.

What about other foods besides these main eight categories that may incite allergic responses in some people?

The new labeling law does not apply to fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry or alcoholic beverages.

My daughter will just have to remember that cantaloupe by any other name makes her mouth itch.

The only "cure" for food allergies is to avoid the food that causes the reaction.

I applaud the efforts of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help make this a little easier.

Barbara Quinn is a registered dietitian at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. E-mail her at bquinn@chomp.org.