Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) is meant to be used only if unintended allergen presence is unavoidable after all reasonable measures are applied. Specific allergen concentration thresholds for PAL, set at levels that would protect a high percentage of individuals with food allergies, have been published. A recent study used risk simulations to assess the potential impact of this threshold-based approach.
Focussing on four allergens and nine food categories, the study used Monte Carlo simulations to examine two different scenarios in Canada:
(1) the current situation where individuals with food allergies may consume products with a PAL, and
(2) a hypothetical scenario where PAL is only applied based on allergen thresholds designed to protect 99% (ED01) and 95% (ED05) of individuals, with those affected systematically avoiding products with precautionary allergen labelling.
In the current scenario, the study found a wide range of reactions, with cross-contact milk posing the highest risk. In contrast, the threshold-based approach (scenario 2) significantly reduced the number of allergic reactions, particularly when PAL was applied at the ED01 level.
The findings suggest that adopting a threshold-driven approach for PAL could benefit those with food allergies, as products without PAL under this system would likely cause very few and generally mild allergic reactions. This method could improve the accuracy and reliability of allergen risk communication by the food industry.
Reference: Lizée K, Dominguez S, Théolier J, La Vieille S, Godefroy SB. Simulated use of thresholds for precautionary allergen labeling: Impact on prevalence and risk. Heliyon. 2024 Jun 20;10(13):e33316. Available with Open Access.
