Managing food allergens

The importance of food manufacturers having a robust allergen control plan to minimize risks to food-allergic consumers, is discussed. In response to the risk that certain foods pose to those with food allergies, countries have responded by instituting labeling laws that require food products to clearly inform consumers if their products contain major allergens or by-products of major allergens. It is imperative and considered a minimum standard of care that all Food Manufacturers have an Allergen Control Plan which includes validation and monitoring by food allergen testing. Within these plans there should be documented evidence of validation, on-going verification and audits by testing as part of a comprehensive risk management system. An investment in these preventative measures will help to improve consumer choice by reducing the need for unhelpful precautionary allergen labeling and ultimately provide brand protection by helping to avoid costly product recalls.