VITAL – Scientific Expert Panel meeting in Australia

The Allergen Bureau's Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL) program recently took a significant step forward with the successful hosting of an international Scientific Expert Panel in Australia during January 2011. The objective of the Panel was to review the Action Levels within the VITAL Grid using available clinical evidence to validate or revise current Action Level values.

The work of the Scientific Expert Panel will help to further facilitate a consistent approach to allergen risk assessment across industry and will ensure that VITAL continues to deliver an end benefit for the allergic consumer. This is an exciting development for the Allergen Bureau, for food manufacturers and for allergic consumers.

The Allergen Bureau worked in collaboration with the University of Nebraska Food Allergy Research and Resource Program (FARRP) to support this event. Following the launch of VITAL within Australia and New Zealand in 2007, the Allergen Bureau is now ensuring VITAL's longer term future by investing in the science that underpins the process. This will ensure that VITAL will be well placed to be used as an internationally-accepted tool for communicating risk to allergic consumers.

The Allergen Bureau will continue to work closely with the Scientific Expert Panel and food manufacturers to transform VITAL from its current Australian – New Zealand focus to a sustainable internationally recognised risk management tool for precautionary labelling.

The Allergen Bureau and peak consumer groups have worked collaboratively over many years on this project. Together we have all helped to create what the VITAL program is today and we look forward to the next exciting steps of the VITAL journey.

Download the VITAL Scientific Panel Outcomes Statement [PDF 88 KB], which will provide further details, including an indication of the important next steps.

For further information please contact the Allergen Bureau.