Allergen Awareness in Food Processing

This course is updated with the most recent revisions that includes Sesame as 9th allergen

What are Major Allergens

Major food allergens, identified by the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), include milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. The 9th major allergen, sesame, was added by the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act on January 1, 2023. FALCPA mandates specific labeling for these allergens to aid consumers in avoiding risks. While the FDA enforces these rules for most packaged foods, exceptions exist for meat, poultry, egg products, and certain other categories regulated by different authorities.

Labeling Requirements

Food labels are legally required to disclose major food allergens, such as tree nuts, fish, and Crustacean shellfish, in accordance with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). This can be achieved by including the allergen's food source in parentheses after the ingredient name or in a "contains" statement following the list of ingredients. FALCPA applies these labeling standards to retail and food-service establishments, excluding foods assembled at the point of purchase. Advisory statements like "may contain [allergen]" are optional and should only be used if manufacturers adhere to good manufacturing practices to prevent cross-contact. The FDA emphasizes that advisory statements are not a substitute for compliance with manufacturing practices and must be truthful and non-misleading.