Food Allergen Week and a new Allergen campaign

The following is a media release from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and is included here with permission

Allergen labelling a life and death matter – reminder to food businesses
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today announced a month-long campaign aimed at reminding food businesses about the need to get allergen labelling right.
FSANZ Acting Chief Executive Officer Peter May said the campaign was timed to coincide with Australia’s Food Allergy Week (May 14‒20).
“Food businesses in Australia and New Zealand need to be across the mandatory allergen labelling requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code,” Mr May said.
“Correct allergen labelling can mean the difference between life and death for people with food allergies so it is vital that food businesses meet labelling requirements.
“There are currently nine foods which must be declared whenever they are present as ingredients or as components of food additives or processing aids. Lupins are expected to be added to the list this month.
“If the food is not in a package or is not required to have a label (for example, food prepared at and sold from a takeaway shop), this information must either be displayed in connection with the food or provided to the purchaser if requested.”
Mr May said FSANZ would be running a social media and media outreach campaign for one month to educate food businesses about the importance of allergen labelling.
“FSANZ supports the important work of Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and its New Zealand counterpart —Allergy New Zealand—in raising awareness about food allergies. Both these organisations also provide important input to allergen-related work undertaken by FSANZ.”
More information
Read about Food Allergy Week
Information about allergen labelling
Video – FSANZ CEO Mark Booth talks about mandatory allergen labelling
Media contact: 0401 714 265 (Australia) or +61 401 714 265 (from New Zealand) or media@foodstandards.gov.au