Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Turner, Paul J.
• Baumert, Joseph L.
• Beyer, Kirsten
• Brooke‐Taylor, Simon
• Comberiati, Pasquale
• Crevel, René W. R.
• Gerdts, Jennifer D.
• Hazel Gowland, M.
• Houben, Geert F.
• Hourihane, Jonathan O’B.
• Konstantinou, George N.
• La Vieille, Sébastien
• Moya, Beatriz
• Muraro, Antonella
• Mills, E. N. Clare
• Patel, Nandinee
• Podestà, Marcia
• Popping, Bert
• Reese, Imke
• Roberts, Graham
• Said, Maria
• Santos, Alexandra F.
• Schnadt, Sabine
• Taylor, Steve L.
• Vlieg‐Boerstra, Berber
• Remington, Benjamin C.

Titel

‘Too high, too low’: The complexities of using thresholds in isolation to inform precautionary allergen (‘may contain’) labels

Ist Teil von

• Allergy (Copenhagen), 2022-06, Vol.77 (6), p.1661-1666

Ort / Verlag

Denmark: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The disclosure of ‘priority’ allergens when present as an (intended) ingredient in foods is, in most countries, enshrined in legislation. However, the disclosure of unintended allergen presence (UAP) due to cross-contact or cross-contamination (e.g. through the use of shared production facilities) is not.1 Many food businesses use precautionary allergen (‘may contain’) labels (PAL) to advise consumers as to the possibility of UAP; however, use of PAL is voluntary and not specifically regulated, and the presence/absence of PAL does not inform as to the actual level of risk that a particular food product might pose.2 The use of PAL has significantly increased over the last decade,3 but because of the perception that they are used by food businesses to limit their own legal liability rather than convey useful information to consumers with food allergies and their caregivers, they are frequently ignored.4 Similarly, there is similar variation in interpretation of PAL by healthcare professionals, including allergy specialists.5, 6 Most foods with a PAL statement do not contain detectable levels of the identified allergen, whilst some products without a PAL do have UAP, which can pose a significant risk of allergic reaction.3, 7 A recent research prioritization exercise, undertaken by the UK Food Standards Agency and involving all relevant stakeholders (including consumers with food allergy, members of the general public, clinicians and researchers, representatives from the food industry and regulatory organizations), highlighted the need to improve use of PAL as a key priority, to allow consumers with food allergy to make informed decisions as to whether a food is ‘safe’ for purchase/consumption.8