Allergen labelling food is controlled for pre-packed foods and has been mandatory for many years now. Under the new EU Food Information to Consumers regulations, as of 2014, the rules change.
There are 14 listed allergens that must be indicated on pre-packed foods. Historically this could be done by printing the warning anywhere on the labels, potentially in a separate panel. From December 2014, it was no longer lawful for allergen labelling food to be done like this.
These 14 Allergens must be emphasised on the labelling of food. From the 13th December 2014, it is mandatory for allergen labelling food to be expressed in the ingredients declaration.
Celery
Celery includes the root (Celeriac), leaves, seeds and celery stalks. Celery is found in stock cubes, celery salt, salads, soups and some meat products. The root (Celeriac) contains more allergen than the stalk. However, the seeds contain the highest levels of allergen content. It is often used in gravy, ready meals, sauces, crisp flavouring and spice mixes. Furthermore, it is often used in oriental cooking as a flavour enhancer.
Cereals containing Gluten
Gluten is found in wheat (such as spelt, Khorasan wheat/Kamut), rye, barley and oats. They are often found in foods such as some types of baking powder, foods which contain flour, batter, breadcrumbs, bread, cakes, couscous, meat products, pasta, soups, sauces and also fried foods which are dusted with flour. Also, gluten is found in gravy, dressing and cakes.
Crustaceans
Crustaceans include crabs, lobster, prawns and scampi. One ingredient that specifically needs highlighting is Shrimp Paste. Shrimp paste is often used in Thai and South-East Asian curries or salads.
Eggs Eggs are used in cakes, some meat products, pasta, mousses, mayonnaise, quiche and sauces. Also, pastries and foods which are glazed in Egg fall under this category. Sorbets, biscuits and ice creams can contain eggs.
Fish
Fish is found in pizzas, relishes, salad dressings, stock cubes, Worcestershire sauce and fish sauces. Therefore all these foods need the allergen of fish emphasising on the labelling. Also, pet food and prawn crackers can sometimes contain fish.
Lupin
Lupin is a flower which is sometimes used in flour. Lupin seeds and Lupin Flour are sometimes used in bread, pastries and pasta. Usually, only European bakery products contain lupin, such as pizza, onion rings and pancakes. Only few products manufactured in the UK contain lupin.
Milk
Milk will need to be emphasised on labelling in foods such as butter, cheese, cream, milk powders and yoghurt. Also some foods are often brushed or glazed with milk, so therefore Milk will need to be emphasised on the labelling. Furthermore, some powdered soups and sauces contain milk.
Molluscs
Mussels, land snails, squid and whelks all fall under the category of Molluscs. Also, molluscs are common in oyster sauce and fish stews.
Mustard
Products such as mustard powder and mustard seeds fall into this category. Also, liquid mustard will require allergen information emphasising on the labelling. Mustard is also found in a variety of foods such as breads, curries, marinades, salad dressings, meat products, soups and sauces.
Nuts In the regulation, nuts and peanuts fall under separate categories. Nuts grow on trees unlike peanuts so therefore, are in different categories. Nuts are found in breads, biscuits, crackers, desserts, nut powders (used in Asian curries), stir-fried dishes, ice-cream, marzipan (almond paste), nut oils and sauces.
Peanuts
Peanuts, unlike nuts, grow underground and are actually a legume (vegetable)! Foods such as biscuits, cakes, curries, desserts and sauces such as satay sauce all contain peanuts. Peanuts are also found in groundnut oil and peanut flour.
Sesame Seeds Sesame seeds are used mostly in bread (e.g. hamburger buns), but can also be found in a great variety of other foods. Foods such as breadsticks, houmous, sesame oil and tahini also contain sesame seeds. Allergen information is also required for some salads which contain toasted sesame seeds.
Soya
Soya is often found in bean curd, edamame beans, miso paste, textured soya protein, soya flour (tofu). Soya is a staple ingredient in most oriental food. Also, it can be found in desserts, ice cream, meat products, sauces and vegetarian products.
Sulphur Dioxide (Sulphites)
Sulphites are often found in dried fruit such as raisins, dried apricots and prunes. Foods such as meat products, soft drinks, vegetables, wine and beer also contain sulphites. Therefore all these foods require allergen information on the label emphasising what the food contains. The sulphites only need to be stated on the label if the concentration is more than ten parts per million.
If you would like Positive ID Labels to create a allergen labelling solution for your labelling problems, then don’t hesitate to call on 01332 864895 or fill in the form and we can contact you by return.
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Last year Freezeland Ltd, a London based retailer of frozen products, contacted us regarding their labelling. Here at Positive ID we are proud to announce that we completely revamped their labelling process. We now supply them with 70,000 labels a year for them to use on their desktop printer system.
Freezeland Ltd
The result is a clearly read label giving all the details necessary. Jackie Harris, Technical Manager at Plants Plus explained that Positive ID Labels labelling solution has speeded up the labelling operation by more than 50%, with a significant cost saving. “It’s ideal for our business,” she said.
Plants Plus
Orexis Fresh Foods Ltd is a family run Food Manufacturing Company specializing in ethnic dips, Mexican dips, luxury salads and sandwich fillings. Orexis Ltd approached Positive ID for a simple cost effective way to apply a “Best Before” and “Batch Number” to a range of their products.
The answer was to use a two line-labelling gun. George Katsaros from Orexis said “we have been using Positive ID for 3 years now and they initially advised us correctly about the right products to use and have been well pleased and served by them since”.
Orexis Fresh Foods
Samantha Gore from Samsi was particularly pleased that we met all the deadlines and she described the experience as ‘fun’ and stated that all staff from Positive ID were very friendly and happy to help. Also, she thanked us for our patience with all the refinements she desired.We are proud to hold great relationships with all of our customers and look forward to many other stories like this in the near future.
Samsi
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Eggs are used in cakes, some meat products, pasta, mousses, mayonnaise, quiche and sauces. Also, pastries and foods which are glazed in Egg fall under this category. Sorbets, biscuits and ice creams can contain eggs.
In the regulation, nuts and peanuts fall under separate categories. Nuts grow on trees unlike peanuts so therefore, are in different categories. Nuts are found in breads, biscuits, crackers, desserts, nut powders (used in Asian curries), stir-fried dishes, ice-cream, marzipan (almond paste), nut oils and sauces.
Sesame seeds are used mostly in bread (e.g. hamburger buns), but can also be found in a great variety of other foods. Foods such as breadsticks, houmous, sesame oil and tahini also contain sesame seeds. Allergen information is also required for some salads which contain toasted sesame seeds.
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