Improving the assessment and management of food allergen risks to protect people with food allergies
Task Force Information
Objectives
The Task Force aims at fostering an international evidence-based consensus on how to assess the risk from allergenic foods. Once identified the agreed method, the Task Force envisage developing tools to help manage the risks and protect all consumers.
Task Force Members
| Simon Flanagan - Chair | Mondelēz International | Research Fellow | UK |
| René Crevel - Interim Chair | René Crevel Consulting Ltd | Director at René Crevel Consulting | UK |
| Neil Buck | General Mills | Global Toxicology and Ecotoxicology Expert | CH |
| Myrthe van den Dungen | DSM-Firmenich | Toxicologist | NL |
| Fleur de Mooij | Danone Nutricia Research | European Registered Toxicologist | NL |
| Melanie Chucholowius | ABInBev | Global SRA Specialist | BE |
| Si Wang | PepsiCo International | Senior Scientist | UK |
| Marta Boiatti | Sorematec | Nutritionist | IT |
| Minna Anthoni | Finnish Food Authority | Senior Officer | FI |
* Scientific Advisors
Contact Information
For more detailed information, please contact Geraldine Borja at gborja@ilsieurope.be
Activity Overview
Ongoing
- Allergen Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA): The Development and Integration of Methodology to Link Emerging Tools with Risk Management Actions across the Supply Chain, including Precautionary Labelling
The expert group identified the methodological aspects that should be applied to allergen risk assessment within complex supply chains in real food production situations. The current focus of
the group is to create a Community of Practice (CoP) and a user-friendly guideline to assist various stakeholders in implementing QRA.
Start date: June 2023 | End date: December 2026
- Define Barriers and Levers for the Effective Regulation of Precautonary Allergen Labelling (PAL)
Activity on barriers and levers for the effective regulation of Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL). The primary objective is to identify gaps that hinder the effective regulation of PAL and determine them necessary actions to address them. The ultimate goal is to establish a more uniform approach to PAL-related decisions.
Start: Oct 2024 - End: Dec 2026
In the Pipeline
- Free-from claims (e.g., gluten-free, peanut-free)
The activity will explore how such claims are used, verified, and interpreted across jurisdictions, and how they relate to risk management practices and consumer trust.
Expert Groups
Allergen Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA): The Development and Integration of Methodology to Link Emerging Tools with Risk Management Actions across the Supply Chain, including Precautionary Labelling
Background and Objectives
There is a growing global interest in integrating risk assessment as a part of allergen management, particularly for decisions on precautionary allergen labelling (PAL). This project developed a guidance on the methodologies needed for quantitative risk assessment and is currently adapting this document into a user friendly guidance for target audiences.
Output
After the publication of the Practical Guidance on the Application of Food Allergen Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) in 2022, the Expert Group has been actively disseminating this document at various events and offering specialised training.
In 2023, the group launched a Community of Practice (CoP) offering a unique opportunity to connect with a global network. Currently counting 184 members, the CoP brings together diverse stakeholders from across the globe, facilitating rich exchanges on overcoming barriers and sharing best practices through discussions and multi-stakeholder workshops. The group is now developing a user-friendly guide to help stakeholders apply the QRA guidance with ease.
Expert Group Members
| Michael Walker – Co-Chair | Laboratory of theGovernment Chemist (LGC) | UK |
| Marjan van Ravenhorst | Allergen Consultancy | NL |
| Neil Buck | General Mills | CH |
| René Crevel | René Crevel Consulting | UK |
| Simon Flanagan | Mondelēz International | UK |
| Marty Blom | TNO | NL |
Identifying barriers to the effective harmonisation of best practices of Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) standards and implementing the recommendations from the FAO/WHO consultation
Background and Objectives
In most jurisdictions, allergenic ingredient labeling is regulated, but precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) remains voluntary. This lack of standardization leads to inconsistent PAL application. This EG aims to identify barriers and opportunities for effective PAL regulation, benefiting both Food Business Operators and Regulatory Agencies:
- Conduct a literature review to Identify the current global regulatory framework for PAL statements (including FARRP databases).
- Conduct interviews with a range of Regulatory Agencies to ascertain current regulatory risk management strategies as well as an inventory of interpretations against country / region specific regulations.
Output
This activity will result in a peer-reviewed publication and potentially a “Black & White” report (practical guidance).
Expert Group Members
| Simon Flanagan | Mondelēz International | UK |
| Fleur de Mooij | Danone Nutricia Research | NL |
| Si Wang | PepsiCo | UK |
| Michael Walker | Queens University Belfast | UK |
| Linda Monaci | Institute of Sciences of Food Production | IT |
| William Birkin | Food Standards Agency | UK |
| Joseph Baumert | University of Nebraska | US |
| Neil Buck | General Mills | CH |
| Paul Turner | Imperial College London | UK |
| Marjan van Ravenhorst | Allergen Consultancy | NL |
| Melanie Chucholowius | AbInBev | BE |
| Geert Houben | TNO | NL |
| Marta Biolatti | Soremartec | IT |
| Sabine Schnadt | Deutschen Allergie- und Asthmabund (DAAB) | DE |
| Jasmine Lacis-Lee | Allergen Bureau | AU |
| Alessandro Fiocchi | Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù | IT |
| André Knulst | University Medical Center Utrecht | NL |
| Sadia Khan | Food Standards Agency | UK |
| Minna Anthoni | Finnish Food Authority | FI |
| Audrey Dunn Galvin | University College Cork | IR |
| René Crevel | René Crevel Consulting | FR |
| Myrthe van den Dungen | dsm Firmenich | NL |
Publications
Journal Articles
Can We Determine a Threshold Level for Allergenic Foods by Statistical Analysis of Published Data in the Literature? Statistical Models for Food Allergenicity Testing
2002
Multimedia
Completed Expert Groups
Overview of completed activities
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- A Framework to Help Define an Appropriate Level of Protection for Consumers with Food Allergies
- Review of Suitability of Analytical Methods for Measuring VITAL® Reference Doses for EU Allergens in Foodstuffs
- Severity versus Dose with Respect to Allergic Reactions
- Allergenicity Assessment of New Protein-Containing Sources and Ingredients
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