Allergens in USFDA

Dear friends

We are implementing FSMA rules in an organisation and I request for an information. Is coconut considered as allergen in USFDA rules?

Thank you

Poulami

Hi, Poulami;

Coconut is not recognized as a major food allergen by the FDA. Here is a list of recognized allergens:

Milk

Wheat

Eggs

Fish

Shellfish

Tree nuts

Peanuts

Soybeans

Yes, a part of tree nut classification.

Dear friends

 

We are implementing FSMA rules in an organisation and I request for an information. Is coconut considered as allergen in USFDA rules?

 

Thank you

Poulami

As per previous Posts.

https://www.fda.gov/...lcpa#additional

https://farrp.unl.edu/informallbig8

Thanks for the correction. Guess I should have dug a little deeper.

Thanks for the correction. Guess I should have dug a little deeper.

Hi Slab,

Indeed the US allergen  "list" is somewhat "nested" and global lists are geographically distinctly variable.

FDA Guidance has -

Sec 25 -
 

[Added October, 2006] Section 201(qq) of the Act defines the term "major food allergen" to include "tree nuts." In addition to the three examples provided in section 201(qq) (almonds, pecans, and walnuts), what nuts are considered "tree nuts?"

The following are considered "tree nuts" for purposes of section 201(qq). The name listed as "common or usual name" should be used to declare the specific type of nut as required by section 403(w)(2).

 

[ >> a list of 19 nominal "nuts"]

https://www.fda.gov/...rgens-edition-4

 

But in truth, (a) categorisation as a "tree nut"  is contentious, (b) as is also it's (relative) allergenic significance, eg -

(a,b)

 coconut.PNG   82.77KB   1 downloads

 allergen bureau,2018.pdf   1.06MB   19 downloads

http://allergenburea...ergy-revisited/

 coconut allergy revisited,2017.pdf   151.3KB   14 downloads

https://www.anaphyla...gebase/coconut/

PS - JFI, here are some EU allergen labelling files (IIRC BRC have also issued several guidance files previously attached here)

 Allergen labelling - REGULATION (EU) No 1169 (2011).pdf   1.12MB   19 downloads

 EU Guidance on allergen labelling legislation,2017.pdf   234.52KB   13 downloads

The EU doesn't define coconut as an allergen under 'tree nuts' or otherwise, which I guess could potentially add to the confusion in a global discussion. In a recent training course my tutor was led to believe Strawberry and Kiwi were now being considered for the major list, though from a quick Google I can't see anything to support this.

I've been hearing rumours about Kiwi being an imminent addition to the EU list for at least ten years, although less so recently. For a while we had lots of customers approach is as if it was already on the list, but that seems to have declined. Coconut on the other hand is quite a common question that we get - we have a site that is nut-free but uses coconut, and that seem to generate all manner of unwarranted confusion.
I'm in the habit of only referring to nuts by stating "nuts as defined by Annex II of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011", because inclusion of other things has become quite prevalent - in addition to coconut we sometimes see Tiger Nuts (a tuber rather than a nut) and Litchi (a fruit rather than a nut, as is the case for coconut) included fairly regularly.
If only there was some sort of unequivocal list defined at a European regulatory level, that we could all use as a reference

I've been hearing rumours about Kiwi being an imminent addition to the EU list for at least ten years, although less so recently. For a while we had lots of customers approach is as if it was already on the list, but that seems to have declined. Coconut on the other hand is quite a common question that we get - we have a site that is nut-free but uses coconut, and that seem to generate all manner of unwarranted confusion.
I'm in the habit of only referring to nuts by stating "nuts as defined by Annex II of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011", because inclusion of other things has become quite prevalent - in addition to coconut we sometimes see Tiger Nuts (a tuber rather than a nut) and Litchi (a fruit rather than a nut, as is the case for coconut) included fairly regularly.
If only there was some sort of unequivocal list defined at a European regulatory level, that we could all use as a reference

In the US, if the FDA does add another allergen, it'll be sesame which is already listed as a major allergen for many countries. https://www.foodsafe...n-labeling-law/

The fact that coconut is considered an allergen in the US and falls under the nut category confuses/baffles many of us as well.

Hi,

to avoid any confusion e.g. in PAL we do not use general terms like "nut". We address the nuts e.g. as hazelnut, walnut....

In the US we address coconut (not when using highly refined oils).

I tried to find informations - the rational behind that (clinical data etc) - for our risk assessment. I have had very, very limited success.

Does anybody can provide links or literature?

Rgds

moskito

I thought this article would be a nice addendum to the topic

https://www.foodsafe...ajor-allergens/