A coalition of over twenty organisations and individuals across the United States has formally urged the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to mandate allergen labelling on alcoholic beverages.
In a letter submitted to the TTB, the group expressed strong support for a proposed rule that would require clear on-package disclosure of the nine major food allergens, including wheat, milk, nuts, fish and eggs, which are commonly found in beers, liqueurs and wines.
The letter highlights that current alcohol labelling regulations leave consumers with food allergies vulnerable, as ingredient lists and allergen disclosures are not required. This lack of transparency means individuals cannot reliably determine whether a product is safe to consume. The group also called for a separate rule mandating full ingredient labelling on all alcoholic products to protect those with allergies beyond the major nine.
Citing a March 2024 poll of over 1,500 alcohol consumers, the letter notes that 79 per cent of respondents considered allergen information important when choosing alcoholic beverages, and 88 per cent valued full ingredient lists. The signatories emphasised that such information should be printed directly on packaging and not relegated to QR codes, which was reliant on access to smartphones and internet, and therefore may exclude some populations or be unavailable at point of purchase.
The coalition includes leading health and consumer advocacy groups such as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Center for Science in the Public Interest, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), and Consumer Reports, among others. They argue that alcohol should no longer be exempt from basic allergen labelling standards and recommend a compliance period of 3.5 years to ensure timely implementation of new rules.
