Food Allergen Consensus Statement

The Food Allergen Management Consensus Statement has been developed in collaboration by key organisations identified below to advocate for improved food allergen management in Australia.

Food Allergen Management
Consensus Statement

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILTY OF CONSUMERS TO:

1. declare their allergies and read food labels (including ingredient lists and allergen declaration statements), and
2. ultimately make their own judgement about the foods they choose to consume.

WE CONSIDER THAT IN ORDER TO ENABLE CONSUMERS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR SAFETY:

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILTY OF PACKAGED GOODS MANUFACTURERS TO:

1. follow robust allergen management practices including quantitative risk assessment, and
2. use clear, consistent labelling to inform consumers about that food's content, including possible presence of unintended allergens.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILTY OF FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS TO:

1. follow robust allergen management, and
2. ensure that staff understand and can inform consumers about the allergen content of the food they provide, including the possible presence of unintended allergens.

We recognise that the safety of consumers with food allergy is a shared responsibility of consumers, packaged food manufacturers, food service establishments/providers, health professionals, retailers, and regulatory and enforcement agencies.

This consensus statement is specific to consumers, packaged food manufacturers and food service establishments/providers, and is part of a strategy to improve the safety and quality of life of consumers with food allergy.

CFAR National Allergy Strategy Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia Allergen Bureau Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Allergy NZ FAMS