Unlocking the Potential of Precautionary Allergen Labeling: A Threshold-Based Approach

Precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) is a crucial tool designed to protect allergic consumers from accidentally consuming foods containing undeclared allergens that could trigger a reaction. However, the overuse and inconsistent application of PAL have raised concerns about its risk communication efficacy. While experts, including Codex, have recommended the use of uniform, threshold-based PAL, this approach has yet to be widely adopted by the industry. To examine the potential impact of threshold-based PAL on allergic consumers, researchers from Laval University and Health Canada conducted computer simulations to predict the outcomes of different scenarios.

Unlocking the Potential of Precautionary Allergen Labeling

Assessing the Current State of PAL

The researchers used input values for four allergens across nine food categories, considering the Canadian population, to simulate the present-day, real-life use of PAL. The findings revealed that PAL may be providing inadequate protection for individuals with food allergies, while also significantly limiting the number of food products available on the market without PAL. Among the allergens and foods included in the study, milk was identified as the allergen that could currently cause the most allergic reactions, with dark chocolate cross-contaminated with milk being the combination that could lead to the most allergic reactions. Interestingly, the researchers found that PAL for hazelnut could be the most overused or the least effective in protecting Canadian consumers.

Exploring Threshold-Based PAL Scenarios

The researchers also simulated two hypothetical scenarios in which PAL is applied based on allergen concentration thresholds that are protective of 99 percent (ED01) and 95 percent (ED05) of consumers, assuming that allergic individuals would avoid products with PAL. The results were promising, as the use of PAL thresholds based on ED01 could lead to a maximum of 15 allergic reactions per 10,000 eating occasions (EOs) for all studied allergen-food category combinations. Similarly, PAL based on ED05 could lead to a maximum of 105 allergic reactions per 10,000 EOs, excluding the case of dark chocolate with milk PAL.

Strengthening the Risk Communication Efficacy of PAL

The simulations suggest that the use of PAL based on ED01 or ED05 could significantly reduce the allergic risk posed to allergic individuals in Canada, particularly for products with PAL for milk and egg, which present the largest reduction in the number of estimated allergic reactions. According to the researchers, the Codex-recommended ED05 threshold would provide an adequate level of protection in most cases, increase the number of safe options for individuals with food allergies, and strengthen the risk communication efficacy of PAL.

Embracing a Threshold-Based Approach

The findings of this study highlight the potential benefits of adopting a threshold-based approach to PAL. By establishing clear and consistent thresholds, the industry can ensure that PAL is applied in a way that effectively communicates the risk to allergic consumers, while also providing them with a wider range of safe food options. This shift towards a more evidence-based and standardized PAL system could have a significant impact on the lives of individuals with food allergies, empowering them to make informed choices and reducing the burden of managing their condition.

Navigating the Challenges Ahead

Implementing a threshold-based PAL system is not without its challenges. The researchers acknowledge that the adoption of such an approach would require collaboration between industry, regulatory bodies, and the scientific community to establish appropriate thresholds and ensure consistent application. Additionally, educating consumers about the meaning and implications of threshold-based PAL will be crucial to maintaining trust and fostering a better understanding of the system.