Food Packaging Must Label "Allergens" from Next Year to Warn Consumers
According to a report by China National Radio's "CNR News," some consumers experience allergic reactions when eating because certain "allergens" unknown to them are present in foods. Under the General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods implemented in 2012, starting next year, allergens must be indicated on food packaging.
At present, some foods in supermarkets already indicate "allergens" on their packaging, but the format and wording vary widely. Many imported foods note in their ingredient listings that they contain allergy-triggering ingredients. For example, a breakfast cereal produced in the UK states that it is "not suitable for people with peanut sensitivity, contains traces of other nuts and milk." Domestic brands also provide detailed allergen information on their packaging—for instance, the packaging of White Rabbit Creamy Candy states that it contains the allergen "dairy products." Some sandwich biscuits not only list several allergens contained in the biscuits but also note that the production line simultaneously processes products containing wheat, egg, peanut and other ingredients.
However, the wording of many allergen warnings is very vague and the labeling is inconsistent, leaving consumers completely confused. For example, a certain coffee powder merely states, in the same font beside the ingredient column, that it contains milk and soy, without explaining that these are allergenic substances; unless consumers pay close attention, they simply cannot tell, so the warning serves little purpose. Even more concerning is that allergen warnings on many children's foods are extremely inadequate.
Beginning next year, the system of mandatory allergen labeling will be enforced. The General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods lists eight categories of products that may trigger allergies, such as gluten-containing grains and their products, including wheat, rye and barley; crustaceans and their products, such as shrimp, lobster and crab; fish and their products; eggs and their products; peanuts and their products; soybeans and their products; milk and dairy products, including lactose; and nuts and their products. Regarding allergenic substances, it explicitly states that if the above foods or products may be introduced during processing, names that are easy to identify should be used in the ingredient list, or an important notice should be given in an adjacent position.
— This article is reposted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-361997.html
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