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Understanding how consumers with food allergies make decisions based on precautionary labelling

Understanding how consumers with food allergies make decisions based on precautionary labelling
Understanding how consumers with food allergies make decisions based on precautionary labelling

BACKGROUND: Understanding consumer perceptions is crucial if effective food safety policy and risk communication are to be developed and implemented. We sought to understand how those living with food allergy assess risk with precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) and their preference in how risks are communicated within a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) framework.

METHODS: The Integrated Approaches to Food Allergen and Allergy Risk Management (iFAAM) labelling online survey was developed for adults and parents of children with food allergy and distributed across Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and UK via patient support groups.

RESULTS: There were 1560 complete responses. 'This product is not suitable for' was selected as first choice for PAL by 46% overall and 'May contain' was selected as the first choice by 44%. Seventy-three percent reported that it would improve their trust in a product if a QRA process had been used to make a decision about whether to include 'may contain'. Overall 66% reported that a 'statement + symbol' on the label indicating a QRA, would help them to understand the risk assessment process that had been used by the food manufacturer.

CONCLUSIONS: Consumers want to know what process has actually taken place for the placing of a PAL and/or risk assessment statement on a particular food product. Our findings provide a basis for the development of more informative communication around food allergen risk and safety and support evidence-based policy-making in the context of the legislative requirements of the European Union's Food Information for Consumers Regulation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

0954-7894
DunnGalvin, A.
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Roberts, G.
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Regent, L.
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Austin, M.M.
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Kenna, F.
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Schnadt, S.
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Sanchez-Sanz, A.
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Hernandez, P.
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Hjorth, B.
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Fernandez-Rivas, M.
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Taylor, S.
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Baumert, J.
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Sheikh, A.
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Astley, S.
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Crevel, R.
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Mills, E.N.C.
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DunnGalvin, A.
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Roberts, G.
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Regent, L.
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Austin, M.M.
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Kenna, F.
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Schnadt, S.
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Sanchez-Sanz, A.
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Hernandez, P.
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Hjorth, B.
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Fernandez-Rivas, M.
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Taylor, S.
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Baumert, J.
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Sheikh, A.
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Astley, S.
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Crevel, R.
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Mills, E.N.C.
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DunnGalvin, A., Roberts, G., Regent, L., Austin, M.M., Kenna, F., Schnadt, S., Sanchez-Sanz, A., Hernandez, P., Hjorth, B., Fernandez-Rivas, M., Taylor, S., Baumert, J., Sheikh, A., Astley, S., Crevel, R. and Mills, E.N.C. (2019) Understanding how consumers with food allergies make decisions based on precautionary labelling. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. (doi:10.1111/cea.13479).

Record type: Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding consumer perceptions is crucial if effective food safety policy and risk communication are to be developed and implemented. We sought to understand how those living with food allergy assess risk with precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) and their preference in how risks are communicated within a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) framework.

METHODS: The Integrated Approaches to Food Allergen and Allergy Risk Management (iFAAM) labelling online survey was developed for adults and parents of children with food allergy and distributed across Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and UK via patient support groups.

RESULTS: There were 1560 complete responses. 'This product is not suitable for' was selected as first choice for PAL by 46% overall and 'May contain' was selected as the first choice by 44%. Seventy-three percent reported that it would improve their trust in a product if a QRA process had been used to make a decision about whether to include 'may contain'. Overall 66% reported that a 'statement + symbol' on the label indicating a QRA, would help them to understand the risk assessment process that had been used by the food manufacturer.

CONCLUSIONS: Consumers want to know what process has actually taken place for the placing of a PAL and/or risk assessment statement on a particular food product. Our findings provide a basis for the development of more informative communication around food allergen risk and safety and support evidence-based policy-making in the context of the legislative requirements of the European Union's Food Information for Consumers Regulation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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DunnGalvin_et_al-2019-Clinical_&_Experimental_Allergy - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 26 June 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 9 August 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 433694
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/433694
ISSN: 0954-7894
PURE UUID: a572b847-4b85-48dc-bdb2-7826bf01bb34
ORCID for G. Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2252-1248

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Date deposited: 30 Aug 2019 16:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:01

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Contributors

Author: A. DunnGalvin
Author: G. Roberts ORCID iD
Author: L. Regent
Author: M.M. Austin
Author: F. Kenna
Author: S. Schnadt
Author: A. Sanchez-Sanz
Author: P. Hernandez
Author: B. Hjorth
Author: M. Fernandez-Rivas
Author: S. Taylor
Author: J. Baumert
Author: A. Sheikh
Author: S. Astley
Author: R. Crevel
Author: E.N.C. Mills

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