Allergen Labelling Requirements
In the past few years, food allergens are imparting high risk for the entire food industry. Essentially these allergens are proteins and are relatively highly stable and heat resistant. Once they entered food supply chain, it is very difficult to remove them along with their consequent health effects. So, the best and safe course of action is to segregate allergens by following Food Allergen Labelling practices and provide accurate information to manufacturers as well as customers.
One of the primary functions of allergen labelling is to avoid mislabeling or contamination as it can seriously affect allergic individual and may lead to anaphylactic shock (mostly in children). Even consumption of low concentrations of allergens, may cause allergic reactions for people at risk. There are many people with food intolerances for lactose, gluten, citric, soyabean components. Hence a proper accurate labelling for food containing potential allergic threats is inevitable.
Labelling Legislation
Considering the risk factors associated with food allergens, EU Regulation 1169/2011 brings together EU rules on general food labelling (including allergens), that requires food manufacturers (FBO) to label allergenic ingredients on food product packaging. Many other countries worldwide have developed similar legislation where food manufacturers need to label products potentially containing allergens.
EU Regulation 1169/2011 list of fourteen (14) allergens which required mandatory labelling include -
- Cereals containing gluten namely wheat like Khorasan wheat, spelt wheat, rye, barley, oats and their hybridised strains and products thereof
- Crustaceans and products thereof like prawns, lobster, crabs and crayfish
- Egg and Egg products thereof
- Fish and products thereof
- Peanuts and products thereof
- Soybeans and products thereof
- Milk and products thereof (including lactose)
- Nuts like almond, hazelnut, walnut, cashew, pecan nut, Brazil nut, pistachio nut and Macadamia nut (Queensland nut)
- Celery and products thereof
- Mustard and products thereof
- Sesame seeds and products thereof
- Sulphur dioxide or sulphites at concentrations more than 10mg/kg or 10mg/L
- Lupin and products thereof
- Molluscs and products thereof like mussels, clams, oysters, scallops, snails and squid
United States:
In the U.S., The Food Allergen Labelling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) of 2004 recommended that the "top 8" allergens should be labelled on food products. They are listed below -
- Peanut
- Tree nuts
- Milk
- Egg
- Wheat
- Soy
- Fish
- Shellfish
Eurofins Comprehensive Allergen Testing Services
To meet the allergen labelling requirements, analytical testing laboratories must be aware of the allergenic ingredients as well as the sources of cross-contamination with allergens that may have occurred. Detection of food allergens is most effective by implementing advanced techniques like ELISA, DNA based PCR, LC-MS/MS. We also have well proved ELISA rapid allergen detection kits
Relevant Services
- As allergen control system should be implemented at critical control points of the supply chain, we offer test systems and also end product monitoring.
- Eurofins possess highly experienced and motivated staff provides accurate, rapid customer services and assists you in quality management
- State of the art methods and advanced analytical technologies are used to deliver precise and accurate analytical data at superior quality
- Eurofins Analytical solutions are specialized and long experienced in allergen detection also according to customer requirements.
- Eurofins is glad to assist in choosing the appropriate method, the risk assessment and to avoid potential cross-contamination in production.
Eurofins Advantage
- Fast turn-around time (TAT)
- Local contact with a Global Network
- Participation in industry associations and regulatory bodies allowing early advice on potential food scares and legal obligations
- Expert advice - testing schemes, on-site-check for hygiene and allergens, labelling advice and traceability
- Results you can rely on
- International presence
