It is important to check the food label when buying food every time you purchase a product. Manufacturers can change ingredients and processes at any time, so the allergens in foods can change without you knowing.
Update your food allergen menu matrix when products change, or if you change to a different product.
In Australia, by law under the Food Standards Code, food packaging must display the most common food allergens. This includes imported foods.
The allergens that must be shown are:
The Food Standards Code also requires that added sulphites in concentrations of 10mg/kg or more must be shown on food labels of packaged foods.
The allergens must be declared if they are included in the product as:
These two videos explain more about PAL statements.
When a food does not have to have a label (such as food made and packaged in bulk for caterers, or food served in cafes, restaurants and takeaway outlets), then the seller must provide accurate information about food allergens to customers when they ask for it.
On 25 February 2021, there was a change to the Food Standards Code about the way food allergen information is shown on labels. The change is called Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL). Allergen information must now be written using simple, plain English names in bold text and in a specific location on the label to make it easier to see if an allergen is in the food. For example, the word 'egg' must be used rather than just the name of the protein in the egg, for example 'albumin'.
Some other important changes under the new PEAL law include:
Under the new labelling law (PEAL), the foods shown in the image below must be written in the statement of ingredients using their plain English name:
Under the new labelling law, common food allergens must be listed with the plain English name alongside the actual ingredient name. This is shown in the example below.
In the statement of ingredients, allergens must be written:
The allergens must also be listed in a summary statement beginning with the word ‘contains’. The summary statement must be next to, but separate from, the ingredient list. It can be above, below or on either side of the ingredient list.
Food companies have been given some time to make these changes to product labels. All products must comply with the new labelling laws by 25 February 2026. Until then, you will need to know how to read labels that comply with both the new and old labelling requirements.
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) has detailed lists of ingredient names for the common food allergens. These Food Allergen Cards can help you understand food labels that are not using plain English names yet.
Make sure you check the packaging carefully because plain English names may not have been used yet. Read all ingredient information on the packaging, not just allergen summary statements, because under the old law, summary statements are voluntary and not regulated so may not be very accurate.
Further information about the Food Standards Code is available from the FSANZ website: www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/Pages/default.aspx
Food that is not packaged (Unlabelled foods):
It is easy to be confused between wheat allergy and coeliac disease and how to read labels for these two conditions.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, oats and cereals that are bred from these grains (such as triticale).
Wheat allergy and gluten
Coeliac disease and gluten
What does lactose free mean?
Lactose free dairy products contain milk protein and must not be given to people with a milk (dairy) allergy.
What about dairy free products?
Content updated June 2023
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