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FSA

Allergen guidance

Anaphylaxis info

Since November 2005, all pre-packed food sold in the UK must show on the label if it contains one of the following as an ingredient (or if one of its ingredients contains, or is made from, one of these):

• peanuts
• nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts and Queensland nuts)
• eggs
• milk
• crustaceans (including prawns, crabs and lobsters)
• fish
• sesame seeds
• cereals containing gluten (including wheat, rye, barley and oats)
• soya
• celery
• mustard
• lupin
• molluscs
• sulphur dioxide/sulphites (preservatives used in some foods and drinks) at levels above 10mg per kg or per litre

Peanuts are not actually nuts, they are legumes.

Allergens

Many people have allergies that are serious or even fatal to them. You have a duty to declare certain allergens and to know enough about all of them to warn customers.

"Food shall not be placed on the market, if it is considered to be unsafe"(178/2002/EC art 14).

Unsafe means either injurious to health or unfit.

To some people, certain foods can be harmful. This is called “allergic reaction” and for them that food is injurious to health .

Allergen Labelling

Some people are so sensitive to allergens that minute quantities can trigger reactions.

For pre-packed foods, under the Labelling Directive 2000/13/EC and amended by 2003/89/EC there is a legal duty to declare clearly on the label any allergen included in the ingredients. It may also be indicated separately in an allergy information panel or box. For best practice an allergy panel/ box should be associated with the ingredients list and all allergenic foods or ingredients in the food should be included.

For non-pre-packed foods, loose foods, it is best practice to be able to advise customers if allergens are present. FSA guidance and a poster are available.

Cross-contamination

In some cases, traces of allergens can get into products through inadvertent cross-contamination.

Advisory labelling should only be used when, following a thorough risk assessment, you think there is a demonstrable and significant risk of allergen cross contamination. It only applies to pre-packed foods. For all other foods you should be able to verbally advise customers if they ask.

"May contain"

Ideally you should avoid cross-contamination.

Guidance is available on how in the Guide and on the website. Sometimes this is impossible.

If you think there is a real possibility of allergen inclusion, it is only fair to the consumer to state that the product may include it. The label should say “may contain xxx”

Previous issues of our publications can be purchased separately at a cost of £3.00 each including post and packing. Allergens have been covered in depth.

Join Food Solutions for access to the resources on the website and regular update publications.

Buy the Guide. It goes on to explain about allergen free foods and the rules on loose foods and allergens.