The Anaphylaxis Campaign’s The Anaphylaxis Campaign’s Allergen StandardAllergen Standard

David ReadingDavid Reading

Anaphylaxis CampaignAnaphylaxis Campaign

Allergy: a media scare storyAllergy: a media scare story

Allergy: the statisticsAllergy: the statistics

Acute, severe food allergy affects half Acute, severe food allergy affects half a million people across the UK. a million people across the UK.

Nut allergy affects one in 50 children.Nut allergy affects one in 50 children.

That’s That’s 250,000250,000 children. children.

Parental anxietyParental anxiety

““My little boy suffered a severe My little boy suffered a severe allergic reaction to a slice of cake allergic reaction to a slice of cake containing walnuts. I am terrified I will containing walnuts. I am terrified I will lose him. I feel we are living with a lose him. I feel we are living with a ticking timebomb.”ticking timebomb.”

What creates this anxiety?What creates this anxiety?

The key messageThe key message

Food allergy can be serious Food allergy can be serious but it’s manageable. but it’s manageable.

Deaths can be prevented.Deaths can be prevented.

What are the challenges?What are the challenges?

Introducing sensible, consistent Introducing sensible, consistent allergen labelling.allergen labelling.

Avoiding cross-contamination.Avoiding cross-contamination.

Reducing the number of ‘may Reducing the number of ‘may contain’ statements.contain’ statements.

Reducing the number of recalls.Reducing the number of recalls.Addressing the problem of ‘free from’.

Confusion among shoppersConfusion among shoppers

"Food labelling is at best confusing "Food labelling is at best confusing and at worst life-threatening. Blanket and at worst life-threatening. Blanket warnings mean that people do not warnings mean that people do not take them seriously.”take them seriously.”

(Mother of allergic child).(Mother of allergic child).

The ‘may contain’ dilemmaThe ‘may contain’ dilemma

““I had always thought that food I had always thought that food labelling was there to help and labelling was there to help and protect the consumer. But now I protect the consumer. But now I wonder if it really exists to protect wonder if it really exists to protect the food industry.”the food industry.”

(Mother of allergic child)(Mother of allergic child)

Scepticism about ‘may contain’Scepticism about ‘may contain’

"We ignore all ‘may contain’ warnings "We ignore all ‘may contain’ warnings since we found one on a cabbage.“since we found one on a cabbage.“

(Allergic shopper)(Allergic shopper)

Quote from a teenager Quote from a teenager

““Food companies put nut warnings Food companies put nut warnings on everything to cover themselves. I on everything to cover themselves. I just can’t believe the risk is real. I’ll just can’t believe the risk is real. I’ll eat anything with a warning.” eat anything with a warning.”

Can of milk with a nut statement!Can of milk with a nut statement!

Increase in product alertsIncrease in product alerts

The Anaphylaxis Campaign sent out The Anaphylaxis Campaign sent out 58 product alerts to members during 58 product alerts to members during 2007, compared with 17 in 2004. 2007, compared with 17 in 2004.

Example oneExample one

Canisters of croissant dough wrongly Canisters of croissant dough wrongly packaged.packaged.

The label said the dough contained The label said the dough contained sunflower margarine. It actually sunflower margarine. It actually contained butter.contained butter.

The company paid for a mail alert.The company paid for a mail alert.

Example twoExample two

Sesame-allergic member found Sesame-allergic member found several sesame seeds embedded in several sesame seeds embedded in base of a fruit tea cake.base of a fruit tea cake.

No sesame warning on pack.No sesame warning on pack.

Other packs also contaminated.Other packs also contaminated.

Company declined to act.Company declined to act.

Mail alert sent out at Campaign’s Mail alert sent out at Campaign’s expense.expense.

Further examplesFurther examples

Soya infant formula recalled Soya infant formula recalled because of milk contamination. because of milk contamination. Product was labelled suitable for a Product was labelled suitable for a milk-free diet.milk-free diet.

Carob icesCarob ices were labelled “100 per were labelled “100 per cent dairy free”. Two people cent dairy free”. Two people suffered reactions. Analysis showed suffered reactions. Analysis showed casein traces.casein traces.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign The Anaphylaxis Campaign Allergen StandardAllergen Standard

Project began in 2006 in response to Project began in 2006 in response to consumer and industry concerns.consumer and industry concerns.

Funded by an FSA grant.Funded by an FSA grant.

Written by industry experts.Written by industry experts.

Went through three months of Went through three months of consultation.consultation.

Launched November 2007.Launched November 2007.

Aim of the StandardAim of the Standard

To reduce riskTo reduce risk through the through the management of food allergens.management of food allergens.

To ensure consumers get accurate To ensure consumers get accurate information.information.

To increase consumer confidence.To increase consumer confidence.

The scope of the StandardThe scope of the StandardPeanuts. Peanuts.

Tree nuts.Tree nuts.

Crustaceans.Crustaceans.

Molluscs.Molluscs.

Fish.Fish.

Eggs.Eggs.

Milk.Milk.

Cereals containing Cereals containing gluten.gluten.

Soybeans.Soybeans.

Celery.Celery.

Mustard.Mustard.

Sesame.Sesame.

Lupin.Lupin.

SulphitesSulphites

The scope of the StandardThe scope of the Standard

• Ingredients labelling as legally Ingredients labelling as legally required.required.

• Allergy advice boxes. Allergy advice boxes. • ‘‘May contain’ advisory labelling.May contain’ advisory labelling.

Why introduce certification?Why introduce certification?

It provides independent assessment.It provides independent assessment.

Reduces risk to the consumer.Reduces risk to the consumer.

Generates consumer confidence.Generates consumer confidence.

Reduces risk of recall, withdrawal, Reduces risk of recall, withdrawal, court action, loss of reputation.court action, loss of reputation.

Due diligenceDue diligence

Companies achieving certification Companies achieving certification will present a will present a lower risklower risk and be and be better able to meet a ‘due diligence’ better able to meet a ‘due diligence’ challenge.challenge.

Defence of ‘due diligence’Defence of ‘due diligence’

““It shall be a defence for the person charged to It shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he took prove that he took all reasonable precautions all reasonable precautions and and exercised all due diligence exercised all due diligence to avoid the to avoid the commission of the offencecommission of the offence””..

• Section 21 – The Food Safety Act 1990Section 21 – The Food Safety Act 1990

“There is a system”

“The system must be made to work”

Training in allergen managementTraining in allergen management

The Standard requires that The Standard requires that companies seeking certification must companies seeking certification must have at least one staff member have at least one staff member trained. trained.

Certification Certification notnot the only goal the only goal

Can the scheme proceed Can the scheme proceed withoutwithout a a requirement for certification?requirement for certification?

The answer is The answer is yesyes..

The Standard offers a high level of The Standard offers a high level of ‘best practice’ guidance.‘best practice’ guidance.

Even without certification, the Even without certification, the allergic consumer will benefit.allergic consumer will benefit.

Why a Why a newnew Standard? Standard?

Other standards include some Other standards include some allergen requirements but at a allergen requirements but at a basic level.basic level.

Auditors not trained in specific Auditors not trained in specific allergen requirements.allergen requirements.

An An independentindependent scheme scheme promotes consumer trust.promotes consumer trust.

Informing the consumerInforming the consumer

Consumers want to know which Consumers want to know which products have been certified.products have been certified.

A simple logo is the answer.A simple logo is the answer.

Logo is voluntary – not compulsory.Logo is voluntary – not compulsory.

It will act as a signpost – rather than It will act as a signpost – rather than an endorsement.an endorsement.

The logoThe logo

What the logo will communicateWhat the logo will communicate

This food company takes allergy This food company takes allergy seriously. seriously.

There is a high level of allergen There is a high level of allergen control in the production process.control in the production process.

You can trust the information on this You can trust the information on this label.label.

Later stagesLater stages

Standard to be reviewed regularly by Standard to be reviewed regularly by a panel of technical experts.a panel of technical experts.

The ‘free from’ and catering aspects The ‘free from’ and catering aspects of the scheme to be phased in later.of the scheme to be phased in later.

Training and marketingTraining and marketing

Outsourced to Highfield.co.uk Ltd.Outsourced to Highfield.co.uk Ltd.

One of the UK's leading suppliers of One of the UK's leading suppliers of food safety training.food safety training.

Has produced food safety and health Has produced food safety and health and safety materials since 1982.and safety materials since 1982.

Supplies products in 25 languages to Supplies products in 25 languages to more than 100 countries.more than 100 countries.

What it costsWhat it costs

The Standard:The Standard:

£65.00 for a £65.00 for a single copysingle copy

£100.00 for two £100.00 for two copiescopies

£200.00 for five £200.00 for five

copiescopies

The training:The training:

2-day course: 2-day course: £740+VAT£740+VAT

2-day course + 2-day course + optional 3rd day: optional 3rd day: £940+VAT£940+VAT

The problems with ‘free from’The problems with ‘free from’

The phrase ‘free from’ suggests an The phrase ‘free from’ suggests an absolute value.absolute value.

Consumers expect it to mean total Consumers expect it to mean total absence.absence.

But some ‘free from’ products have But some ‘free from’ products have been tested to reveal traces.been tested to reveal traces.

People have reacted.People have reacted.

A few of the recallsA few of the recallsCheese and tomato bake for babies –Cheese and tomato bake for babies –labelled ‘milk and lactose free’.labelled ‘milk and lactose free’.Soya slices – ‘100 per cent dairy Soya slices – ‘100 per cent dairy free’. free’. Soya formula for infants – Soya formula for infants – ‘suitable ‘suitable for a milk and lactose free diet’.for a milk and lactose free diet’.‘‘Free from’ chocolate bar – ‘free from Free from’ chocolate bar – ‘free from gluten, wheat and dairy’. gluten, wheat and dairy’. Organic flakes Organic flakes labelled ‘gluten-free’. labelled ‘gluten-free’.

Spot the mistakeSpot the mistake

The messageThe message

Food companies wishing to label Food companies wishing to label products ‘free from X’ must be products ‘free from X’ must be confident there is virtually no chance confident there is virtually no chance of cross-contact.of cross-contact.

Contact usContact us

www.anaphylaxis.org.ukwww.allergyinschools.org.ukwww.cateringforallergy.org

Email: info@anaphylaxis.org.uk

Helpline: 01252 542029