Allergen Symbol

In Australia, the Heart Foundation Tick is well recognised as showing foods that meet strict health limits, and it is known that consumers purchase these foods based on the Tick being on the label.

There has been some discussion overseas about having a symbol on the label for products containing any of the recognised food allergens. It is not yet a requirement in Australia, but is certainly an issue that is being raised by many.

With the incidence of allergies increasing across the world, allergen labelling of food and other products (eg; skin care) is becoming more and more of an issue. In Australia and New Zealand, the Food Standards Code contains all the current allergen labelling requirements for foods. Non food products are not covered by these however, and as such there is a potential allergy issue with these types of products when the food allergens are added to them, eg; peanut oil being used in skin care products.

There are two basic groups of food allergens; those meant to be in the food or product and the unintended. The unintended allergens are those that are not in the ingredient list or recipe and therefore should not be in the food or product. The Food Standards Code requires that there be no unintended allergens in a food, so food businesses must therefore have controls in place to ensure that it meets this requirement. Labelling is just one of these controls.

Whilst an allergen symbol on a food or product label would be extremely useful to the public and particularly to those who have food allergies, there are significant issues with it and it’s implementation in the food industry.

In Australia, an allergen symbol will provide those that do not speak English with an easily identifiable way of knowing that a food contains at least one allergen. It will also support current allergen labelling requirements and remove much of the current confusion about the “May Contain” and similar statements.

The food industry issues include;
• what type of symbol,
• should there be variations identifying the different types of allergens (eg; a red version for peanuts),
• when does the symbol actually have to be used (when we know the allergens is definitely there or only when it may be there),
• will there be a fee for use,
• what guidelines will be in place for it’s use,
• who would be responsible for the symbol,
• will a testing program be required to have and maintain use of the symbol,
• what will the symbol look like and how is it to be used and placed on the package

Before an allergen symbol can be used on foods and other products in Australia and New Zealand, these and other issues need to be resolved. In the meantime, the Allergen Bureau has a scientifically tested method for labelling allergens (VITAL) which provides both the food industry and the public with a simple and effective way of identifying the presence of allergens in a food. It can be found at www.allergenbureau.net.au