Allergen issues in food

Food allergies are becoming more common around the world

Food allergy is an abnormal immune response

Food allergies occur when you are exposed to a food that triggers an abnormal immune response

Although food allergies that appear in childhood disappear over time, and there are successful cases of desensitization studies, there is no cure for food allergies, and the only solution is prevention

Some food allergies are more severe

Important allergens listed in the Codex Alimentarius are foods or ingredients that cause allergic phenomena in multiple populations around the world, and which are more likely to cause severe reactions, even in small amounts

These important allergens are also known as the "Big Eight": milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sulfites (10 mg/kg or more) concentration)

The United States, European Union, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand all follow the Codex Alimentarius recommendation to mandate the labelling of such allergens on food packaging

Food allergy rates vary by country

Food allergies are related to dietary habits and food consumption habits

For example, kiwifruit was first introduced in Japan in the 1960s

While the Codex Alimentarius provides a global list of foods or ingredients that should be listed on food labels, the list does not necessarily cover all foods that cause allergies in specific populations

Hygiene and laboratory testing can help control and detect allergen levels in food

In most cases, the protein in the food is the cause of the allergy problem

The Codex Alimentarius recommends good hygiene practices to effectively minimise the risk of cross-contact with allergens

Protecting allergy-prone consumers through food labelling and due diligence

　　CAC has developed food allergen management practices for food businesses to minimize the risk of cross-contact

　　CAC is studying how to develop international guidelines for such instructions to alert the presence of allergens

　　Regulation of food allergen labelling is already effective, providing safe food for allergy-prone individuals

　　(Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

"China Food News" (03 edition on April 6, 2022)

　　(Editor-in-charge: Han Songyan)