Allergen Bureau Labelling Survey & PIF

A Labelling Review Survey was carried out in 2009 to investigate how allergens are declared on labels of processed foods available in Australian supermarkets. The survey compares the results from the 2009 survey with those from a similar survey conducted in 2005 and tracks adherence of food labels to the labelling recommendations from the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) Food Industry Guide to Allergen Management – 2007 Revised Edition.

Components of the labels studied include the labelling font and format of allergen information – for example, is the ingredient list and allergen information grouped together? Are the minimum font size recommendations being followed? Is the allergen information distinct and clearly able to be read? Where an allergen summary statement or precautionary label are used, is the wording consistent across food labels? What allergen claims are used?

The Allergen Bureau promotes consistency in food allergen labelling to assist the food allergic consumers to more easily identify foods which are safe to eat and those which they should avoid. This survey can be used by the food industry as a 'snapshot' of how allergens are declared on labels and to highlight areas where labelling could be improved to more clearly and consistently declare allergens.

The survey includes a list of recommendations for the Allergen Bureau Management Committee, including:

• identifying strategies to increase uptake of the recommendations of the AFGC Guide; and
• providing additional guidance for the food industry to assist with consistently declaring allergen information.

During the course of this survey, a large database of information from food labels was collected and may be accessed, via the Allergen Bureau, to answer specific questions by food industry. For example, the ANZFSC states that 'soybeans' are required for mandatory declaration – our data shows that the in the majority of cases, Australian food labels use the word 'soy' in preference to 'soybeans' or 'soya'.

Thank you to everyone who provided input to this survey and report, including Kirsten Grinter, Jenni Cooper, Georgina Christensen and Fiona Fleming (Allergen Bureau Management Committee Chair). Thank you also to the NSW Food Authority for allowing us the use of their conference room and for the student and industry volunteers and their companies for allowing time to complete this work.

For further information about the Labelling Review Survey or to access information from the database, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click here to download The Labelling Review Survey report  [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 324.88 KB]