The Practice and Perception of Precautionary Allergen Labelling by the Australasian Food Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

Background

The precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) and Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL^®) tools were designed by industry to assist consumers with selecting safe foods for consumption. However, a sizeable proportion of food products bear no label and it is unclear whether these products are free from allergens and therefore safe to consume or have simply not undergone a risk assessment and therefore remain unlabelled for that reason.

Objective

To assess the prevalence of unlabelled products that have undergone a risk assessment process and to examine the factors influencing industry's uptake of the VITAL^® process.

Methods

A web-based questionnaire was distributed to Australasian food and grocery manufacturers.

Results

One hundred and thirty seven Australasian manufacturers were contacted and 59 questionnaires were returned (response rate: 43%). The respondents represented 454 different manufacturing sites. Manufacturers reported that 23% (95% CI 19-28) of products (n = 102/434) that had been through the VITAL^® risk assessment process had no PAL statement on the label. 34% (95% CI 30-38), (n = 204/600) of products that had undergone another (non-VITAL^®) risk assessment process had no PAL statement. In examining the factors that influenced industry's uptake of the VITAL^® process, 25 manufacturers reported on factors that influenced the uptake of the VITAL^® process, 76% (CI 95% 55-91) reported that VITAL^® was an effective tool because it was based on science; 52% (CI 95% 31-72) reported that it was too time-consuming and 36% (CI 95% 18-57) identified a concern with it not being endorsed by the government.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

Currently we estimate that at least 30% of products may have been through a risk assessment process and yet bear no PAL statement on the label. Permissive labelling could be incorporated onto these products if they have been assessed to be safe for consumption.

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