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Precautionary allergen labelling: perspectives from key stakeholder groups

Precautionary allergen labelling: perspectives from key stakeholder groups
Precautionary allergen labelling: perspectives from key stakeholder groups
Precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) was introduced by the food industry to help manage and communicate the possibility of reaction from the unintended presence of allergens in foods. However, in its current form, PAL is counterproductive for consumers with food allergies. This review aims to summarize the perspectives of all the key stakeholders (including clinicians, patients, food industry and regulators), with the aim of defining common health protection and risk minimization goals. The lack of agreed reference doses has resulted in inconsistent application of PAL by the food industry and in levels of contamination that prompt withdrawal action by enforcement officers. So there is a poor relationship between the presence or absence of PAL and actual reaction risk. This has led to a loss of trust in PAL, reducing the ability of consumers with food allergies to make informed choices. The result has been reduced avoidance, reduced quality of life and increased risk-taking by consumers who often ignore PAL. All contributing stakeholders agree that PAL must reflect actual risk. PAL should be transparent and consistent with rules underpinning decision-making process being communicated clearly to all stakeholders. The use of PAL should indicate the possible, unintended presence of an allergen in a consumed portion of a food product at or above any proposed action level. This will require combined work by all stakeholders to ensure everyone understands the approach and its limitations. Consumers with food allergy then need to be educated to undertake individualized risk assessments in relation to any PAL present.
food allergy, food allergen, consumers, precationary allergen labelling, quantitative risk assessment
0105-4538
1039-1051
DunnGalvin, A.
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Chan, C.-H.
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Crevel, R.
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Grimshaw, K.
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Poms, R.
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Schnadt, S.
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Taylor, S.L.
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Turner, P.
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Allen, K.J.
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Austin, M.
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Baka, A.
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Baumert, J.L.
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Baumgartner, S.
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Beyer, K.
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Bucchini, L.
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Fernández-Rivas, M.
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Grinter, K.
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Houben, G.F.
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Hourihane, J.
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Kenna, F.
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Kruizinga, A.G.
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Lack, G.
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Madsen, C.B.
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Clare Mills, E.N.
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Papadopoulos, N.G.
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Alldrick, A.
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Regent, L.
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Sherlock, R.
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Wal, J.-M.
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Roberts, G.
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DunnGalvin, A.
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Chan, C.-H.
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Crevel, R.
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Grimshaw, K.
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Poms, R.
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Schnadt, S.
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Taylor, S.L.
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Turner, P.
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Allen, K.J.
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Austin, M.
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Baka, A.
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Baumert, J.L.
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Baumgartner, S.
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Beyer, K.
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Bucchini, L.
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Fernández-Rivas, M.
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Grinter, K.
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Houben, G.F.
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Hourihane, J.
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Kenna, F.
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Kruizinga, A.G.
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Lack, G.
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Madsen, C.B.
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Clare Mills, E.N.
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Papadopoulos, N.G.
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Alldrick, A.
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Regent, L.
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Sherlock, R.
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Wal, J.-M.
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Roberts, G.
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DunnGalvin, A., Chan, C.-H., Crevel, R., Grimshaw, K., Poms, R., Schnadt, S., Taylor, S.L., Turner, P., Allen, K.J., Austin, M., Baka, A., Baumert, J.L., Baumgartner, S., Beyer, K., Bucchini, L., Fernández-Rivas, M., Grinter, K., Houben, G.F., Hourihane, J., Kenna, F., Kruizinga, A.G., Lack, G., Madsen, C.B., Clare Mills, E.N., Papadopoulos, N.G., Alldrick, A., Regent, L., Sherlock, R., Wal, J.-M. and Roberts, G. (2015) Precautionary allergen labelling: perspectives from key stakeholder groups. Allergy, 70 (9), 1039-1051. (doi:10.1111/all.12614). (PMID:25808296)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) was introduced by the food industry to help manage and communicate the possibility of reaction from the unintended presence of allergens in foods. However, in its current form, PAL is counterproductive for consumers with food allergies. This review aims to summarize the perspectives of all the key stakeholders (including clinicians, patients, food industry and regulators), with the aim of defining common health protection and risk minimization goals. The lack of agreed reference doses has resulted in inconsistent application of PAL by the food industry and in levels of contamination that prompt withdrawal action by enforcement officers. So there is a poor relationship between the presence or absence of PAL and actual reaction risk. This has led to a loss of trust in PAL, reducing the ability of consumers with food allergies to make informed choices. The result has been reduced avoidance, reduced quality of life and increased risk-taking by consumers who often ignore PAL. All contributing stakeholders agree that PAL must reflect actual risk. PAL should be transparent and consistent with rules underpinning decision-making process being communicated clearly to all stakeholders. The use of PAL should indicate the possible, unintended presence of an allergen in a consumed portion of a food product at or above any proposed action level. This will require combined work by all stakeholders to ensure everyone understands the approach and its limitations. Consumers with food allergy then need to be educated to undertake individualized risk assessments in relation to any PAL present.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 16 March 2015
e-pub ahead of print date: 24 March 2015
Published date: September 2015
Keywords: food allergy, food allergen, consumers, precationary allergen labelling, quantitative risk assessment
Organisations: Human Development & Health

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 388738
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/388738
ISSN: 0105-4538
PURE UUID: 2bf853a9-e5c3-4198-b9e0-cb8d2fc495e5
ORCID for G. Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2252-1248

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 02 Mar 2016 16:30
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:22

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Contributors

Author: A. DunnGalvin
Author: C.-H. Chan
Author: R. Crevel
Author: K. Grimshaw
Author: R. Poms
Author: S. Schnadt
Author: S.L. Taylor
Author: P. Turner
Author: K.J. Allen
Author: M. Austin
Author: A. Baka
Author: J.L. Baumert
Author: S. Baumgartner
Author: K. Beyer
Author: L. Bucchini
Author: M. Fernández-Rivas
Author: K. Grinter
Author: G.F. Houben
Author: J. Hourihane
Author: F. Kenna
Author: A.G. Kruizinga
Author: G. Lack
Author: C.B. Madsen
Author: E.N. Clare Mills
Author: N.G. Papadopoulos
Author: A. Alldrick
Author: L. Regent
Author: R. Sherlock
Author: J.-M. Wal
Author: G. Roberts ORCID iD

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