We have taken the decision to include under our 'gluten-free' or 'lactose-free' filters the products that do not contain gluten or lactose in their ingredient list, but which may nevertheless contain traces of it. Traces means a small and unintentional amount of an allergen that may nevertheless be sufficient to trigger a reaction in an allergic person.
"May contain traces of gluten", "Manufactured in a facility where products with gluten are processed" or "Possible traces of gluten" are terminologies used by manufacturers when a product has been processed, packaged or packed in an environment where other products containing gluten are processed.
In doing so, we are addressing people who want to avoid gluten or limit their lactose intake due to intolerance or other reasons. For these people, a "possible trace of gluten or lactose" does not represent a risk. We are talking about a probability of having been in contact with gluten or lactose, but in the majority of these products there is no trace of gluten or lactose. The same reasoning applies to vegan or vegetarian products which may contain "traces of animal products".
For people who are coeliac or strictly lactose intolerant, and for whom no trace of gluten or lactose is tolerable, we encourage them to consult individually the product sheets of the products they wish to add to their basket. We have documented in the 'Ingredients/Composition' section all possible traces of allergens as indicated on the labels.
Eventually we plan to build another filter 'gluten free' and 'lactose free'. This requires a lot of work upstream and above all complete and strictly correct information from our suppliers on all our products.