ILSI Europe is proud to announce the release of the publication "Food Allergen Precautionary Labelling: A Risk-Based Approach – Overview for Food Business Operators," developed by the Food Allergy Task Force. This concise and practical document aims to enhance understanding and application of Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) in food allergen management.
Aiming for safer, more accurate food allergen labelling
Precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) plays a crucial role in protecting consumers with food allergies. However, current practices often result in inconsistent and overly cautious labelling, which may misrepresent the real risks of allergen presence. QRA offers a scientifically robust alternative by quantifying unintentional allergen presence (UAP) and comparing exposure levels with allergen reference doses (RfDs). This approach enables food business operators (FBOs) to make informed decisions about applying PAL, improving consumer confidence and ensuring safety.
Key highlights from the publication
- Introduction to QRA: Explains its principles, including deterministic and probabilistic methods for assessing allergen risks.
- Strategic applications: Demonstrates how QRA can be integrated into various stages of food production and supply chain management, from raw materials to finished products.
- Practical guidance: Offers actionable advice on collecting and using data for QRA, including sampling strategies and analytical methods.
- Global relevance: Addresses the evolving regulatory landscape, emphasizing the need for harmonized practices across FBOs worldwide.
Benefits of implementing QRA
QRA promotes a more targeted application of PAL, reducing unnecessary warnings and increasing trust in food labels. It also strengthens supply chain management by identifying and mitigating cross-contact risks, enhancing traceability, and supporting compliance with international regulations.
A resource for the food industry
This publication serves as an accessible entry point for FBOs seeking to adopt QRA and align with global best practices. It also connects readers to the more detailed Practical Guidance on the Application of Food Allergen Quantitative Risk Assessment within Food Operations, published by the same Task Force in June 2022 and downloaded over 3,000 times since.
About the Food Allergy Task Force
The Food Allergy Task Force seeks to build an international consensus on evidence-based approaches to assessing risks from allergenic foods. This publication reflects the collective expertise and collaboration of the Task Force members, which includes leading researchers from academia and industry. Their work highlights ILSI Europe's dedication to advancing public health through scientifically robust research and practical guidance.
Access the full publication
The overview is available for free download on the ILSI Europe website together with the Practical Guidance and associated resources like calculation worksheets, analysis forms and training videos.