Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading

Food Labelling in the UK: A Guide to the Legal Requirements .............. Home Page

Nutrition declaration
Manner of marking or labelling

Allergen/intolerance labelling

Specified allergens

The regulations provide for the mandatory labelling of certain specified allergens:

... indication of the following particulars shall be mandatory:

  • any ingredient or processing aid listed in Annex II or derived from a substance or product listed in Annex II causing allergies or intolerances used in the manufacture or preparation of a food and still present in the finished product, even if in an altered form

Article 9(1)

Annex II lists the substances considered by the EU to pose a significant hazard to certain individuals - see the list of specified substances causing allergies or intolerances.

General labelling rule

... the particulars ... shall meet the following requirements:

(a) they shall be indicated in the list of ingredients  … with a clear reference to the name of the substance or product as listed in Annex II; and

(b) the name of the substance or product as listed in Annex II shall be emphasised through a typeset that clearly distinguishes it from the rest of the list of ingredients, for example by means of the font, style or background colour.

Where several ingredients or processing aids of a food originate from a single substance or product listed in Annex II, the labelling shall make it clear for each ingredient or processing aid concerned.

The indication of the particulars ... shall not be required in cases where the name of the food clearly refers to the substance or product concerned.

Article 21(1)

Any food containing a specified substance or any ingredient derived from a specified substance, must specify the ingredient in the name of the food or be marked or labelled with a clear reference to the name of the substance as listed in the Annex. The name of the substance or product as listed in Annex II must though be emphasised. This shall be the case for every such ingredient.

Notice however that the final statement above removes the need to comply with these specific provisions in cases where the consumer can determine the presence of the substance from the name of the food.

In the absence of a list of ingredients, the indication of the particulars ... shall comprise the word ‘contains’ followed by the name of the substance or product as listed in Annex II.

Article 21(1)

Examples of products covered by this might be drinks with an alcoholic strength by volume of more than 1.2%, food listed on a menu or single ingredient foods. However, if the name of the food contains the name of the ingredient, then the exemption given above applies - for example a pack of 'Peanuts' would not need to state 'Contains peanuts'.

Guidance

More detailed guidance on the application of the requirements for allergen/intolerance labelling is available:

 

Examples

Allergen/intolerance labelling

Notes:

  1. Before the specific requirements contained in the Regulation were implemented, it had been common practice to use a specific 'allergen warning box' on food labels. However, this was not specified as a legal requirement and the guidance suggests that this should no longer be included. Where it has previously been given in this manner, it is suggested that consumers are referred to the ingredients list. A typical statement would read: 'Allergy Advice: For allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in bold'.
  2. Additional information is often given suggesting the potential for contamination when certain raw materials are present in a factory but are not used as ingredients - often termed 'may contain' labeling. This situation is not currently covered by the Food Information Regulation.
Manner of marking or labelling
 
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