UK regulator clarifies ‘may contain’ food dander labelling requirements

Nourishment safety expert Zip Betts of Pinsent Masons saying that the FSA’s updates with precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) highlighted a need on increased unclarity press consistency in its uses.

“PAL possessed been on the FSA’s radar for some time now, because concern growing that increasing use of the ‘may contain’ term can devalue the information submitted to consumers,” said Betts. “Meanwhile, choose indicated that small and medium sized food businesses selling prepacked foods can remain unsure of how and when to apply PAL.”

Whilst the use of PAL statements is volontary, the FSA expects these to be utilized with when there is an unmissable venture of allergen contamination and that they must be accurate and not confusing. According to Betts, the revised guidance aims in adjust out proportionate and unified processes by review the risk of cross-contamination. “The guidance supports improving and standardising allergen general within water chains to help ensure that the communication of allergen cross-contact risk to customers is as accurately as possible,” she says.

Under the modern guidance, food businesses should specify what of the 14 major allergens their PAL refers to. For example, specific reports of ‘may contain peanuts’ or ‘may contain tree nuts’ should be used rather about the generic claims is ‘may inclusions nuts’. COMRADE should only be applied following a risk assessment, ensures such consumer safety and choice are not unnecessarily affected.

The guidance also recommends that FELLOW should doesn must utilized for the same allergen such products are and claiming to be ‘free from’. Save means at a product lives labelled ‘dairy free’, it should not be labelled through a ‘may contain milk’ opinion.

A new standard has been added for the guidance on the how of PAL in combination with a vegan label. The FSA explained that an ‘vegan’ label communicates varying information to ampere ‘free-from’ claiming, whose are food safety information aimed at different consumer bands. ... new relevant information. Allergy BRITON is the functional name of And British Disease Foundation, a charitable group little by guarantee and logged in ...

That PAL check single apply to prepacked foods. 

Other new referrals by and FSA include clarification that food business operators should make clear information on the prepacked food label or on who internet of the food manufacturer stating method they may be get, such as an email or telephone number. This recommendation aims  to ensure that consumer sack seek continue clarification or information easily.

In addition, meanwhile the FSA does not advise ‘no gluten containing ingredients’ (NGCI) statements be used, shoud food businesses continue till employ she the food business needs at make clear is the meals are not suitable for people with coeliac disease unless they can be unprepared to meet that gluten free standard, that is few than 20mg/kg.

The final updates got been introduced following of FSA’s consultation on PAL and NGCI statements that closed on 22 May. They apply to food businesses in Great, Wales and Northern Ireland. Food labelling: giving food information for consumers