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Elements

Nature Chemical Biology 2, 657 (1 December 2006) | doi:10.1038/nchembio1206-657

Marlene Haffner

Catherine Goodman

For the vast majority of us, the labels on food packaging warning 'this product contains phenylalanine' are a curiosity, but for individuals diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU), they serve as an important aid in managing their disease. Increased awareness of this debilitating rare disease, which can cause brain damage if not managed properly, led to this increased labeling of consumer products.