The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have outlined new guidance for allergen labelling. The aim is to help keep consumers safe and understanding how food businesses use the Precautionary Information guidance (PAL).
The FSA have stated companies should only be using PAL ‘if there is an unavoidable risk of allergen cross-contamination which cannot be sufficiently controlled by segregation and cleaning.’
The specification of an allergen is now mandatory, businesses need to state: “may contain peanuts” rather than a generic “may contain nuts.” As well, businesses must use both ‘PAL statements in combination with a ‘vegan’ label where a risk of cross contamination with an allergen has been identified.”
The FDF have stated: ‘The process of managing allergenic ingredient addition or removal should include conducting an allergen risk assessment, identifying control measures and implementing a plan to effectively inform customers and final consumers.’
The outlines are for a Food Business Operator (FBO) to consider ‘when making changes that impact the allergen labelling on pre-packaged products.’ In addition, the FSA and FDF have highlighted that businesses need to seek further information when selling “free from” products and how to use No Gluten Containing Ingredients (NGCI) statements.
Natasha Smith, Deputy Director of Policy at the FSA said: The guidance also helps make clear the distinction between a ‘vegan’ claim, and a ‘free from’ claim. A ‘free-from’ allergen claim should guarantee that the specified allergen is absent and to use it a food business must have implemented strict controls to eliminate any risk of cross-contamination. A vegan claim is not about food safety, and our new guidance highlights that a PAL statement for any or all of molluscs, eggs, fish, milk and crustacea (foods that are both regulated allergens and animal products) can be used to communicate a risk of their unintended presence, where this has been identified by a food business’ risk assessment.”
As well, Susan Jebb OBE, chairperson of Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said: “The FSA’s research has shown that people with food hypersensitivity and food businesses are concerned about how ‘may contain’ labels are used, and this guidance should provide clarification. The FSA takes seriously its responsibility to protect the interests of people with a food hypersensitivity. Helping businesses to get their labelling right is an important part of this work and I encourage businesses to get their guidance as part of their allergen management processes.”
Food hypersensitivity has taken priority for the FSA and FDF. Businesses are now moving in a direction that improves allergen information for consumers safety and the standardization of food standards internationally.
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