Allergen Management In The Food Industry

This book comprehensively addresses the sources of allergenic contaminants in foods, their fate during processing, and the specific measures that need to be taken to minimize their occurrence in foods. The book provides up-to-date information on the nine major allergens (as well as other emerging allergens) and practical guidelines on how these allergens can be identified and controlled during production and processing. Starting with an introduction to food allergens, the book follows with sections on food allergen management during production and processing, guidelines for the processing of specific allergen-free foods, techniques for hypo-allergenization and allergen detection, and allergen-free certification.

This volume identifies gaps in the assessment, management, and communication of food allergen risks. Chapters showcase best practices in managing allergen risks at various stages of the food chain, including during food manufacture/processing; during food preparation in food service, retail food establishments, and in the home; and at the point of consumption. The authors highlight key legislative initiatives that are in various stages of development and implementation at the federal, state and community levels. Finally, the volume includes recommendations for ways to build and strengthen education and outreach efforts at the food industry, government, institutional, and community levels. Chapters come from an array of experts, including researchers and key stakeholders from government, the food industry, retail/food service groups, and consumer groups. The information presented will facilitate the development of educational materials and allergen management training programs for food production and service staff, extension specialists, and government inspectors. Consumers and other food safety professionals will also benefit from information on food allergen control measures that have been put in place across the food chain.

Over the past 20 years, public concerns have grown in response to the apparent rising prevalence of food allergy and related atopic conditions, such as eczema. Although evidence on the true prevalence of food allergy is complicated by insufficient or inconsistent data and studies with variable methodologies, many health care experts who care for patients agree that a real increase in food allergy has occurred and that it is unlikely to be due simply to an increase in awareness and better tools for diagnosis. Many stakeholders are concerned about these increases, including the general public, policy makers, regulatory agencies, the food industry, scientists, clinicians, and especially families of children and young people suffering from food allergy. At the present time, however, despite a mounting body of data on the prevalence, health consequences, and associated costs of food allergy, this chronic disease has not garnered the level of societal attention that it warrants. Moreover, for patients and families at risk, recommendations and guidelines have not been clear about preventing exposure or the onset of reactions or for managing this disease. Finding a Path to Safety in Food Allergy examines critical issues related to food allergy, including the prevalence and severity of food allergy and its impact on affected individuals, families, and communities; and current understanding of food allergy as a disease, and in diagnostics, treatments, prevention, and public policy. This report seeks to: clarify the nature of the disease, its causes, and its current management; highlight gaps in knowledge; encourage the implementation of management tools at many levels and among many stakeholders; and delineate a roadmap to safety for those who have, or are at risk of developing, food allergy, as well as for others in society who are responsible for public health.

One of the greatest challenges facing the food industry isproviding safe food to an ever-increasing number of allergicconsumers through a global supply chain. Approximately 2–4%of western adults and up to 10% of children are currently thoughtto be sensitive to food allergens, and the issue is of majorcommercial significance to food manufacturers. The market for‘free-from’ foods has grown dramatically in recentyears and the demand for gluten- and dairy-free foods shows no signof abating in the foreseeable future. This volume provides an overview of the safe management of foodallergens, aiming to help all those with a vested interest inunderstanding how to protect consumer health through goodmanufacturing practice and clear labelling advice. It examines therisk management systems and practices being adopted by the foodindustry to tackle the growing hypersensitivity of consumers to arange of food proteins. The various aspects of the subject areaddressed from a range of perspectives including that ofresearcher, food manufacturer, enforcement officer, clinician andconsumer. There will be an emphasis on the scientific analysis offood and environmental samples and their use in verifyingin-process controls and finished-product labelling claims. The bookis directed at food scientists and technologists based in industryand research, quality assurance personnel, clinicians and publichealth officials.

This book is the proceedings from a national conference on allergen management. Two leading research bodies, Leatherhead Food International (LFI), in conjunction with Campden BRI, hosted the conference to support the awareness and management of food allergens on the food industry. With food recalls due to cross contamination of allergens or incorrect allergen labelling an expensive problem for the food industry and dangerous for food-allergic consumers. Food Chain Allergen Management provides vital information on the tools available to enable businesses to manage allergens in the food chain. The book also includes information on allergen controls, the prevalence of food allergies, allergen management thresholds, auditing and retailer expectations. Essential reading for academics and industrialists in food science.

Risk Management for Food Allergy is developed by a team of scientists and industry professionals who understand the importance of allergen risk assessment and presents practical, real-world guidance for food manufacturers. With more than 12 million Americans suffering from food allergies and little indication of what is causing that number to continue to grow, food producers, packagers and distributors need to appropriately process, label and deliver their products to ensure the safety of customers with allergic conditions. By identifying risk factors during processing as well as determining appropriate "safe" thresholds of ingredients, the food industry must take increasingly proactive steps to avoid direct or cross-contamination as well as ensuring that their products are appropriately labeled and identified for those at risk. This book covers a range of critical topics in this area, including the epidemiology of food allergy, assessing allergen thresholds and risk, specifics of gluten management and celiac disease, and much more. The practical advice on factory risk management, catering industry practices, allergen detection and measurement and regulatory controls is key for food industry professionals as well as regulators in government and other public bodies. Science-based insights into the potential risks of food allergens Focused section on determining thresholds Practical guidance on food allergen risk management, including case studies

Allergens in food and their detection, management and elimination constitute a key issue for food manufacturers, especially in terms of safety. This book reviews current and emerging technologies for detecting and reducing allergens, as well as issues such as traceability, regulation and consumer attitudes. Following an introductory chapter by a distinguished expert, part one covers allergen management throughout the food chain. Part two details current and emerging methods of allergen detection in food, and part three covers methods for reducing and eliminating allergens in food. Finally, part four focuses on the control and detection of individual food allergens and the risks each one presents in food manufacture. Reviews current and emerging technologies for detecting and reducing allergens, as well as issues such as traceability, regulation and consumer attitudes Covers allergen management throughout the food chain and reviews current and emerging methods of allergen detection Examines methods for reducing and eliminating allergens in food and provides a detailed overview of the control and detection of individual food allergens

Food allergy is recognized as an important public health issue, requiring collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including the food industry, to be effectively addressed. Allergen management in food production aims to assure the safety of allergic consumers. This is achieved by accurate allergen labeling and ensuring that either products do not contain unintended allergens in amounts that pose an unacceptable risk to food allergy sufferers or meaningful precautionary labeling is applied. To ensure this, food allergen risk management must be integrated into general food safety management and allergen risks considered at all stages of the food manufacturing process. Recent advances in understanding of minimum eliciting doses make it possible to estimate quantitatively the risk from cross-contact. However, validation studies and the use of analytical methods to quantify levels of carry-over are subject to many potential pitfalls and benefit from a rigorous approach to design, conduct and interpretation.