Allergen Control

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To leverage scientific knowledge for action on food allergens, Scientific Advice Program teams from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) collaborated with the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) to host a webinar discussing the outcomes of food allergen expert consultations.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking stakeholder input on official advice for the proper use of precautionary allergen labels (PALs), which suggests that food businesses specify which of the 14 major allergens to which a PAL refers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced draft recommendations for industry on the naming of plant-based foods that are marketed and sold as alternatives to milk.

Every fourth restaurant and café in Sweden provides incorrect information about allergenic ingredients, according to a report from the Swedish Food Agency (also known as Livsmedelsverket in Swedish).

Risk-based approaches for food allergens offer a path forward for both allergen management and precautionary allergen labeling decision-making. After many years of research, a clearer picture has emerged of the population-level, threshold-dose distributions for major food allergens using data generated in double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge studies. If the food allergen management field is headed for a shift toward quantitative, risk-based management strategies, however, then several method considerations and important data gaps must be addressed.

Experts with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have developed a process for the consideration of future exemptions of highly refined foods and ingredients derived from or containing a priority allergen food.

A recent study analyzing food allergen recalls in the UK from 2016–2021 has revealed allergens to be the most prevalent cause, and milk to be the most commonly implicated allergen.

The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) has announced its sponsorship of the Nourished Group’s Gluten-Free Business-to-Business (B2B) Directory, launching in January 2023 and offering a robust listing of companies that provide the resources needed to operate a business in the gluten-free space.

With a draft guidance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Edition 5); Guidance for Industry.

Food Allergy Canada recently released its Allergen Management Guidelines for Food Manufacturers, which includes online training and a user guide. The guidelines aim to support Canadian food and beverage manufacturers in managing allergens in their facility to enhance food safety.