The
U.S.A. have just adopted a legislation concerning the compulsory
labelling of the eight major food allergens (milk, egg, fish,
shellfish, peanut, tree nut, wheat, soy).
The bill has just been signed by President Georges BUSH and
it will take effect on January 1st, 2006 (The Food Allergen
and Consumer Protection Act – FALCPA). It is the result of years of hard work of the
Food allergy and anaphylaxis network (FAAN) and it has got Pr Hugh
Sampson’s greetings. A special care is given to the risk of “hidden” allergens
because labels will have to indicate the presence of those major food
allergens in spices, flavouring, additives and colourings.
This bill also calls on the federal government to improve the collection
of food allergy data, to convene a panel of experts, to review food
allergy research efforts, to evaluate the number of allergen inspections
done of food manufacturing facilities and the ways in which theses
facilities can reduce or eliminate cross-contact, to consider revisions
of the Food Code to provide allergen-free preparation guidelines for
restaurants and food service establishments and investigate consumer
preference pertaining to advisory food labelling statements.
