Precautionary allergen labelling
We have a risk assessment in place for production and allergens handled, but a lot of our specs state may contain, should this information be transferred to our label?
I have been looking at our suppliers, updated the database to state what their spec says eg may contain milk, and contacted them for information regarding the controls in place, depening on their answer do I need to list the allergen on the label?
Yes
the may contain statement is not sufficient and the regulator will see it as a lack of GMPs in your facility
Thanks, we have the controls in place on our site but don't handle the allergen eg celery as an ingredient but the supplier does and states may contain on their spec so we should then have may contain celery if they are declaring it
I second what Scampi said. May Contain statements are dubious at best, and certainly aren't legally covering you should the worst happen. Companies use them all the time, but I never would.....
I got a spec from a perspective vendor once, and every allergen in every major country was listed on their 'may contain' statement. Needless to say I passed on their product....
We have 4 allergens in my building. If any ingredient has something other than those 4, even on a may contain basis, I will not use it.
Depending on their answer. Where there is a genuine risk.
Which country are you in? The FSA have some good advice on this but it's only for the UK market obviously.