8 replies to this topic

[terrine1]

Hi,

 

Can anyone advise on the correct labelling text if there are no allergens deliberately added as an ingredient for example in bacon. Do you have no allergen warning at all or is it legal to say allergens: none?

 

Thank you.

 

[olenazh]

You don't need to add a statement: NO ALLERGENS as it might me misleading. On our labels, if a product doesn't contain any allergens - we don't put any allergen-related statements.

[The Food Scientist]

Just do not put an allergen warning if the product or facility do not have allergens! Also if it has no allergens you do not need to put non. 

 

We process allergens but for our non-allergens we put the statement due to our facility still processing allergens. (Risk of cross-contact and contamination).

[pHruit]

I presume you're labelling this for the UK market?
If so, no statement is required - you're required to declare presence rather than absence.

I'd be cautious about adding voluntary "no allergen" statements, as this may be construed as a "free from" claim (obviously somewhat dependent on the wording you use) and there may be a corresponding expectation of significantly more validation. Personally I'd also be wary of falling foul of Article 7(1)© of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, although this one seems to be very poorly enforced, at least based on the quality of label information on many food products...

[terrine1]

Thank you for all your replies. That was my understanding, that it's no statement rather than saying no allergens but just wanted to check. Yes, for the UK market and I was worried that we'd have to provide allergen testing results if we stated no allergens, as validation.

Your help is much appreciated.  

[SQFconsultant]

No allergens, no statement.

 

You may however want to contact senior management and ownership and tell them to consider putitng a No Allergen blurb on your labeling as a boost to sales. Of course then you will need to prove it by testing.

[VThiruselvi]

if there is no allergen, no need to be declared however the presence of allergen in same facility need to in considerations for possible risk of contamination. May refer Allergen Bureau VITAL Program – a standardised allergen risk assessment process for food industry. Allergen risk review provides essential information for use in VITAL Online, the web-based VITAL Calculator.

[GMO]

if there is no allergen, no need to be declared however the presence of allergen in same facility need to in considerations for possible risk of contamination. May refer Allergen Bureau VITAL Program – a standardised allergen risk assessment process for food industry. Allergen risk review provides essential information for use in VITAL Online, the web-based VITAL Calculator.

 

Vital does not apply in the UK.

[GMO]

The "may contain" box should have disappeared with the food information regulation for consumers.  It didn't because of manufacturers nervousness.

 

In all honesty the "made in a factory which also processes" or "may contains" is meaningless anyway.