UK: New Food Allergen Labeling Guidance
On September 5, 2023, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) published updates to their food allergen labeling and information technical guidance. The new guidance recommends several changes in relation to how food businesses should use Precautionary Allergen Labels (PALs):
- Only apply a PAL if there is an unavoidable risk of allergen cross-contamination that cannot be sufficiently controlled by segregation and cleaning.
- Specify which of the 14 major allergens the PAL refers to —for example, using “may contain peanuts” rather than a generic “may contain nuts” statement.
- Use PAL statements in combination with a “vegan” label where a risk of cross-contamination with an allergen has been identified. A “vegan” label communicates different information to a “free-from” claim, which is food safety information aimed at different consumer groups.
The FSA update supports the FDF Guidance on Change Management of Allergen Information, which was also published in early September 2023 by the Food and Drink Federation.
Thailand: New Rules Proposed for Expiration Dates and Allergen Warnings
According to Food Navigator Europe, the Thai Food and Drug Association (FDA) has issued draft proposals for prepackaged foods that would align the country’s labeling regulations with international standards. The proposed changes would change the requirements on how expiration dates and allergen warnings are displayed on food packaging. The public comment period closes on September 30, 2023.