The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) in the UK has launched new guidelines aimed at assisting manufacturers in effectively managing allergen-related issues and product recalls. This initiative, titled “Allergen Recall Prevention,” stems from collaboration with FDF members and insights from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
These guidelines outline crucial considerations for food manufacturers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the food and beverage industry. The document offers essential practices centered around the prevention, management, and investigation of food allergy incidents.
In announcing the initiative, the FDF underscored the importance of accurate allergen labeling on food packaging. They highlighted that incorrect or missing allergen information not only poses serious health risks to over two million individuals with food allergies in the UK, but also significantly affects the economic stability of smaller food and drink businesses through costly recalls.
Olayemi Fashesin-Souza, the regulatory manager for the FDF, stated, “The British food and drink industry has some of the highest safety standards in the world. With robust allergen management practices and comprehensive labeling, consumers with food allergies can choose from a wide variety of products that are safe for them to eat. However, sometimes food products need to be recalled to ensure consumer safety. Our latest guidance offers manufacturers a proactive approach to minimize allergen-related recalls.” She added that companies, particularly smaller organizations, can enhance their food safety procedures and prevent potential problems by implementing these guidelines.
The guidance also addresses the main causes of allergen incidents, which include incorrect allergen declarations, discrepancies between product and packaging, misleading ‘free-from’ claims, and failure to disclose potential allergen presence. Furthermore, the FDF cautioned against products labeled as ‘free-from’ an allergen that may still contain it as either an ingredient or contaminant.
This new guidance is a crucial step for food and drink business owners who aspire to stay ahead of food and drink consumer trends and ensure compliance within the food and beverage industry.
In conclusion, with initiatives such as the Allergen Recall Prevention guidelines, the UK food and drink industry continues to set a high standard, ensuring that businesses are well-equipped to tackle allergen management challenges while improving consumer safety and product reliability.
