From: Precautionary labelling of foods for allergen content: are we ready for a global framework?
Precautionary allergen labelling | “Contains…” labelling permitted | Legislation on allergen disclosure implemented | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
In use? | Is use regulated? | Risk-based approach, using thresholds? | |||
Argentina [11] | NO | USE IS PROHIBITED | NO | YES and may be used as an alternative to precautionary labelling to indicate potential cross-contamination | 2010 |
Australia/New Zealand[12] | ✓ | No | Voluntary. Thresholds vary with allergen | ✓ | 2002 |
Canada [14] | ✓ (specific phrasing recommended) | No | No | ✓ | 1994 |
Chile [28] | ✓ | No | No | YES and can be used to indicate risk from cross-contamination. NB free-from labels prohibited | 2010 |
China [15] | ✓ | No | No | ✓ | 2012 |
✓ | No* | No | No longer permitted from Dec 2014 | 2003 | |
Hong Kong [17] | ✓ | No | No | ✓ | 2004 |
Japan [18] | NO | USE IS PROHIBITED | >10 ppm requires mandatory disclosure for all allergens | YES, only for allergen present in >10 ppm | 2002 |
Kuwait/Gulf [19] | ✓ | No | No | ✓ | 2008 |
Malaysia [20] | ✓ | No | No | ✓ | 2009 |
Mexico [21] | ✓ | No | No | ✓ | 2010 |
Singapore [22] | ✓ | No | No | ✓ | 2011 |
South Africa [23] | ✓ | Yes** | No | ✓ | 2012 |
South Korea [24] | ✓ | No | No | 2004 | |
Switzerland [29] | ✓ | Precautionary statements can only be use for non-ingredients above 1 g/kg | Any allergen (whether ‘ingredient’ or not) above 1000 ppm requires disclosure | ✓ | 2002 |
USA [25] | ✓ | No | No | ✓ | 2006 |