Galveston County Daily News (Internet / Print) 01/01/06 http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=25382af85191698f Starting today, the Federal Drug Administration will require food labels to clearly state, in plain English, the ingredients in their products so that people with food allergies will be aware of any potential health hazards. For many consumers, doctors and advocates, the law is a long time coming. Dr. Andrew Grant, an allergist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, said that about 10 percent of his patients have food allergies. Allergic reactions to peanuts and shellfish are common in this area, he said. “The only effective treatment is prevention by avoidance,” said Grant, who added that the new FDA requirement is pivotal because it identifies the eight major causes of food allergies and simplifies the language on labels.