“Vegan” doesn’t mean allergen-free

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have launched a public awareness campaign on the risk of food labelled as “vegan” to people with allergies.

Recent research has shown that 62% of people who have allergic reactions to animal-based products, or who buy for someone who does, are confident that products labelled as “vegan” are safe for them to eat.

Sadly, the vegan label does not guarantee zero cross-contamination with animal-based allergens in vegan products if they are made in the same factory as animal-based products.

The campaign also makes the distinction between the rules required for vegan food labelling and “free-from”. Whereas “vegan” products may be prepared in areas containing traces of animal product, businesses using “free-from” labels must adhere to strict rules which eliminate any risk of cross-contamination with the allergen they are free from.

For those people who are allergic to milk, eggs, fish or seafood - it is essential to check for the allergen information on products such as a “may contain” list, either on the product label or with restaurant servers and chefs.

As part of the campaign, the FSA are updating their guidance for the food industry to include Precautionary Allergen Labels (PALs) alongside a vegan label, if cross-contamination can’t be ruled out.

For more information see the Vegan Food and Allergens website.