New guidance to help the UK food industry understand and implement changes in EU legislation for allergen labelling on products has been launched.
The guidance, which has been put together by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) in partnership with the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), offers clear advice for retailers and manufacturers on how to implement new requirements on the provision of information to consumers.
The new regulations aim to make it easier for customers to find and understand information on allergens in the food they buy. They require companies to highlight allergens (such as nuts, milk and cereals containing gluten) in their products' ingredients lists.
The document provides advice on how to address the fact that "contains…' statements listing allergens will no longer be allowed on pack. Companies have until the end of December 2014 to comply with the requirements.
"We're delighted to be launching this guidance, which sets out clear steps to help retailers and manufacturers navigate the new requirements on allergen labelling to ensure a consistent approach across the board,” said British Retail Consortium deputy food director, Andrea Martinez-Inchausti. “Our members are committed to making sure that their customers can make safe and informed choices about the food they buy."
