Undeclared Allergens In Food

Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden collaborated during 2015 in a control project on allergen labeling. Products were also analysed for the allergens milk, egg, hazelnut, peanut and gluten.Correct labeling is the only aid for allergic consumers to avoid products which could pose a serious health risk. The widespread use of non-regulated precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) might decrease the amount of products available for allergic consumers. It can also pose a risk since the PAL might be ignored. On 10 % of the controlled products, the allergenic ingredients were not correctly transcribed in the list of ingredients and EU regulations were thus not followed. Milk was the most frequently found undeclared allergen, especially in chocolate and bakery products, and therefore constitute a risk for allergic consumers. The results might give input to achieve EU legislation regarding PAL.

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.

Annotation Allergens pose a serious risk to consumers, making effective detection methods a priority for the food industry. Bringing together key experts in the field, this important collection both reviews the range of analytical techniques available and their use to detect specific allergens such as nuts, dairy and wheat products. The first part of the book discusses established methods of detection such as the use of antibodies and ELISA techniques. Part 2 reviews techniques for particular allergens, the final parts of the book explore how detection methods can be most effectively applied. CONTENTS Part 1 The basics of food allergy: The nature of food allergy; Classifying food allergens. Part 2 Types of detection method: The use of antibodies to detect allergens in food; Allergen-specific human lgE antibody-based analysis of food; Immunoblotting in allergen detection; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for detecting allergens in foods; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for the detection of allergenic foods; Proteomic assessment of allergens in food; Detecting food allergens with a surface plasmon resonance immunoassay; The use of lateral flow devices to detect food allergens. Part 3 Detection methods for particular allergens: Methods for detecting peanuts in food; Detecting tree nuts and seeds in food; Detecting dairy and egg residues in food; Detecting wheat gluten in food; Detecting soy, fish and crustaceans in food. Part 4 Issues in using allergen detection methods: Allergen quality assurance for hypoallergenic formula; Common issues in detecting allergenic residues on equipment and in processed foods; Factors affecting the effectiveness of allergen detection; Reference materials and method validation in allergen detection; US regulation of undeclared allergens in food products; EU regulation of undeclared allergens in food products.

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.

This valuable volume addresses the growing consumer demand for novel functional food products and for high-value, nutritionally rich products by focusing on the sources and applications of bioactives from food. The chapters in the book describe functional properties and discuss applications of the selected food ingredients obtained from various sources, including culinary banana, phalsa, pseudocereals, roselle calyces, asparagus, and more. Several chapters address the resurgence of interest in pseudocereals due to their excellent nutritional and biological values, gluten-free composition, and the presence of some health-promoting compounds. The book also looks at utilizing industrial byproducts for making functional and nutraceutical ingredients. The chapters on prebiotics and probiotics highlight different functional properties, and a chapter on food allergens discusses advancements in detection and management in the food manufacturing industries.

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.

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