Allergen

It is estimated that between 1 and 10% of individuals suffer from food allergy[1] with the number of people affected increasing[2]. The consequences of exposure to even very small amounts of food allergen for these individuals can be devastating.

UK and European citizens need to have access to safe and wholesome foods. These needs are supported by a legislative framework that is covered by the General Food Law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002) and the Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU1169/2011) amongst others. These regulations stipulate mandatory labelling requirements for foods containing any one of 14 specific food allergen and include provisions to ensure that ‘free from’ allergen claims on foods can be trusted by the public.

The 14 allergen covered by the Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU1169/2011) include:

• Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat (such as spelt and khorasan wheat), rye, barley, oats

• Crustaceans for example prawns, crabs, lobster, crayfish

• Eggs

• Fish

• Peanuts

• Soybeans

• Milk (including lactose)

• Nuts; namely almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecan nuts, Brazil nuts, pistachio nuts, macadamia (or Queensland) nuts

• Celery (including celeriac)

• Mustard

• Sesame

• Sulphur dioxide/sulphites, where added and at a level above 10mg/kg or 10mg/L in the finished product. This can be used as a preservative in dried fruit

• Lupin, which includes lupin seeds and flour and can be found in types of bread, pastries and pasta

• Molluscs like, mussels, whelks, oysters, snails and squid

Further details on food allergy rules and legislation can be found at this free to access and easy to digest training course on the UKs Food Standard Agency training website here (allergytraining.food.gov.uk/English/default.aspx), or at the European Commission food safety websites:

https://ec.europa.eu/food/overview_en https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/labelling_legislation_en; https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/general_food_law_en

At PIQ Laboratories, we offer a suite of tests that detect low levels of an allergen in food, supporting food manufacturers to meet their legislative requirements in providing safe foods.

[1] - Sicherer and Sampson; 2014 doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.11.020
[2] - Tang and Mullins https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.13362

Allergen testing

What we test

• A wide range of allergens. Please ask if you cannot find what you are looking for.

• We can test a wide range of food products including cooked, raw, processed and unprocessed.

Get in touch

➤ LOCATION

Unit 3 Couzens House, Elvicta Business Park, Crickhowell. NP8 1DF

☎ CONTACT

info@piqlaboratories.com
01873 877650

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