When Should You Label Your Product as Containing Allergens?

#1 · March 22, 2025, 2:04 pm

Quote from Omari Kitula on March 22, 2025, 2:04 pm
Allergens are very dangerous as they can pose a serious health problem when a person allergic to that component take it into his or her body either through inhalation or direct ingestion so if you are producing or selling food products, it's crucial to clearly indicate when your product contains allergens. Failure to do so can pose serious health risks to consumers and lead to legal consequences. The following are some of the situations where you must label your product as containing allergens:

1. Direct Ingredients

You must indicate allergens if your product contains any of the following common allergens in it's ingredient content:

- Milk

- Eggs

- Peanuts

- Tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc.)

- Wheat (gluten)

- Soy

- Fish

- Shellfish (crab, shrimp, lobster, and other seafood.)

2. Cross-Contamination Risks

Sometimes your product may not contain ingredients with allergens but if your product is manufactured in a facility that also processes allergens, you should include a statement like:

"May contain traces of allergen"or "Produced in a facility that handles allergen."

3. Hidden Allergens

Some ingredients may contain allergens indirectly, such as:

- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (may contain soy or wheat)

- Lecithin (often derived from soy)

- Gelatin (sometimes made from fish or animal sources)

- Modified food starch (may contain wheat)

4. New Formulation or Recipe Changes

If you change your recipe and introduce an allergen, you must also update your label to reflect the change.

5. Unpackaged or Restaurant Foods

For fresh foods, bakeries, or restaurants, allergen information must be clearly provided upon request, either through menus or verbal communication.

6. Exporting to Countries with Stricter Regulations

Some countries have additional allergen labeling requirements. Always check local food safety regulations before exporting.

Clear allergen labeling is essential for consumer safety and regulatory compliance. Always follow food labeling laws to protect your customers and your business. Sometimes we may take it just as a small concern but may result to larger consequences such as serious health problems or even destroying your brand image, and as we know it take years to build a brand yet it also take just seconds to destroy it.

Allergens are very dangerous as they can pose a serious health problem when a person allergic to that component take it into his or her body either through inhalation or direct ingestion so if you are producing or selling food products, it's crucial to clearly indicate when your product contains allergens. Failure to do so can pose serious health risks to consumers and lead to legal consequences. The following are some of the situations where you must label your product as containing allergens:

1. Direct Ingredients

You must indicate allergens if your product contains any of the following common allergens in it's ingredient content:

- Milk

- Eggs

- Peanuts

- Tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc.)

- Wheat (gluten)

- Soy

- Fish

- Shellfish (crab, shrimp, lobster, and other seafood.)

2. Cross-Contamination Risks

Sometimes your product may not contain ingredients with allergens but if your product is manufactured in a facility that also processes allergens, you should include a statement like:

"May contain traces of allergen"or "Produced in a facility that handles allergen."

3. Hidden Allergens

Some ingredients may contain allergens indirectly, such as:

- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (may contain soy or wheat)

- Lecithin (often derived from soy)

- Gelatin (sometimes made from fish or animal sources)

- Modified food starch (may contain wheat)

4. New Formulation or Recipe Changes

If you change your recipe and introduce an allergen, you must also update your label to reflect the change.

5. Unpackaged or Restaurant Foods

For fresh foods, bakeries, or restaurants, allergen information must be clearly provided upon request, either through menus or verbal communication.

6. Exporting to Countries with Stricter Regulations

Some countries have additional allergen labeling requirements. Always check local food safety regulations before exporting.

Clear allergen labeling is essential for consumer safety and regulatory compliance. Always follow food labeling laws to protect your customers and your business. Sometimes we may take it just as a small concern but may result to larger consequences such as serious health problems or even destroying your brand image, and as we know it take years to build a brand yet it also take just seconds to destroy it.