VITAL Allergen Labelling

The Allergen Forum is a part of the Australian Food and Grocery Council. The Forum is focussed on developing methods and tools to assist food businesses control and label allergens.

One of the key tools developed by the Forum is a simple to use and effective method for food allergen advisory labelling. It is known as the VITAL (Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen) system and is a scientific method based on risk.

This method incorporates a series of three concentration levels and depending upon how much of a food allergen is present in a food as to how the food could be labelled. The business must first determine exactly the amount of each food allergen present in their products to then use the levels to label their foods appropriately.

The following is a summary of the concept behind each of the levels, for more details and the method go to www.allergenbureau.net

• At the first level of allergen concentration, the amount of allergen present is so low that it is highly unlikely, based on much scientific research, to cause adverse reactions and so labelling is not necessary.
   
• At the second level, the amount of food allergen present in the food is sufficiently high enough to potentially cause adverse reactions and then specific worded advisory labelling is required.
   
• At the third level, the amount of food allergen is so high, that it should be considered as an ingredient and should therefore be listed in the appropriate place in the Ingredient List.

The method took several years to develop and gives a scientific and systematic way of determining whether an advisory label is required. It is now commonly being used by many businesses across Australia.

At least one retailer has required that their current Trade Partners incorporated this method into their systems by 01 September 2008, and will be confirming this through their audit process. It is also a requirement for all of their future trade partners.

They are doing this to ensure that the allergen information on food labels in their stores is accurate, so it gives consumers an informed choice about what they are buying.