Are your labels allergen compliant?

As of 13th December 2014, every manufacturer that sells or imports food products in the European Union must ensure that it complies with new EU food labelling legislation.  Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 cracks down on the way that allergy information is displayed on food products.  

According to the Food Standards Agency, the new regulation builds on current allergen labelling provisions for pre-packed foods, however it introduces a new requirement for allergen information to be provided for foods sold non-packed or pre-packed for direct sale. The change in regulation impacts food and beverage manufacturers of all sizes, from caterers to packaging companies. It applies to all products sold in the EU, which means that every company selling in the EU market must comply, even if the company itself is based outside of the EU.

Current rules

Current regulation highlights a list of 14 food allergens that have to be indicated by reference to the source allergen whenever they, or ingredients made from them, are used at any level in pre-packed foods, including alcoholic drinks. 

While the existing requirement is for these allergens to be referred to on-pack, the common practice of printing statements such as ‘may contain nuts’ will no longer do. According to the British Retail Consortium’s Guidance on Allergen Labelling and the Requirements in Regulation 1169/2011, changes reflect consumer behaviour. Research has suggested that consumers, who have been relying on allergy boxes or statements to obtain allergen information, are likely to overlook the information provided in the ingredients list. 

This is cause for concern, considering that there is no known cure for food allergy and the only treatment available to consumers is life-long avoidance of the foods that cause allergic reaction, which in severe cases can be fatal. Accurate food allergen information is therefore vital to helping allergic consumers manage their condition. 

New rules

The new legislation means that food and beverage manufacturers are required to emphasise the presence of allergenic foods in the ingredients listing, making it easy to find and understand. There are specific rules on layout and design that must be adhered to. For example, Article 12 (clarity and legibility) of 1169/2011 states, 'to ensure clear legibility, use characters with a font size where the x-height is at least 1.2mm'. Article 21 (labelling of allergens) stipulates that an allergenic ingredient is, 'emphasised through a typeset that clearly distinguishes it from the rest of the ingredients by means of the font, style or background colour'. 

How to comply

Businesses need to take immediate action to make any necessary changes to their processes and labelling designs in order to meet the provisions laid out in the legislation. To get up-to-speed quickly and achieve compliance, some simple yet effective solutions are available.  For example, NiceLabel, in partnership with Citizen Systems Europe, has developed a smart labelling solution that enables users to automatically highlight allergens without modifying their existing databases. 

NiceLabel software dynamically formats the allergen text in an ingredients list, which users can then print cost effectively and in the correct resolution using a Citizen thermal printer. The printers cater for all volumes and requirements and combined with NiceLabel ingredient lists, provide suppliers with an all-in-one solution that helps them meet the new regulation.  

With a looming deadline, tight specification for adherence and the necessity for accuracy to ensure consumer safety, achieving compliance on 1169/2011 might seem like a mountain to climb. However, by working together, technology providers have been able to create smart labelling solutions which make the transition for food manufacturers far more digestible. 

Checklist

The following checklist will help you to consider the key issues and provide a road map towards swift compliance.

Conduct an audit of all items that require updated labels

Consult a nutritionist or allergy expert if required 

Collate all necessary product information for each item and carry out design work

Implement a software solution

Review and upgrade printers if required.