Sweden to Develop a National Strategy for Food Allergies
Following a preliminary study on food allergy safety and preventive work in the country, The Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) and the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) have proposed, based on their findings, concrete measures to make food safer for Swedes with food allergies, which includes the development of a national strategy.
According to Livsmedelsverket, more than 100,000 people in Sweden have some form of food allergy. However, approximately 10 percent of food companies provide incorrect information about allergenic ingredients. To address this, Livsmedelsverket and Socialstyrelsen were commissioned by the Swedish government in August 2022 to carry out a preliminary study about how preventive work in the area of food allergies could be developed, and how people with food allergies could be better protected. The recently published findings of the study highlight the need for new knowledge and additional authorities, suggesting several courses of action: