Each and every food production company needs to ensure that they implement Allergen Management at their facility. The risk to the consumer increases if these management systems are not in place. Here we provide you with articles both directly and indirectly linked to Allergen Management.
Food allergies are not a personal preference, but a global public health concern. For some, exposure to even small amounts of protein from an allergen can lead to severe – sometimes life-threatening – reactions. That is why regulators and authorities around the world have developed legislation, ...
The bad news is, we don’t know! But the good news is that based on drafts that were published recently, we may have a clue… Over the past two years, South Africa’s regulatory landscape has been anything but quiet, bringing new regulations on meat analogues and sorghum products, and compulso...
When it comes to food allergens, we often hear about the ‘big eight’ – the group of allergens most commonly associated with allergic reactions. The list of common allergens in a country is generally shaped by three key factors: Prevalence – how common the allergy is across populations; ...
How much is too much? An allergen test result is not a conclusion, it is a conversation. And as with any important conversation, you need to know how to listen, interpret and respond. That exchange begins with key questions: What is the purpose of the analysis? What is being measured, and i...
If an ingredient contains (or is) a highly processed common allergen derivative, it may pose a reduced risk to sensitive consumers. Several countries have established a list of ingredients exempted from allergen labelling, but South Africa does not currently have such a list. However, the Regulat...
Compositing – the practice of combining multiple subsamples to create a single sample – is widely used in food testing to provide a more comprehensive view of, for example, a batch of product. While compositing is a useful tool, it can present unique challenges and risks when applied to allergen...
Testing for the presence or absence of allergen residues on surfaces using swabs is well established. However, accurately quantifying allergenic residues on surfaces using swabs is far more complex — and not currently considered scientifically reliable. Experts caution against quantitative alle...
“I want to test my product to ‘certify’ it as gluten-free.” It’s a common request in the food industry— and while testing is an essential component in determining gluten content, testing alone does not automatically ‘certify’ a product as gluten-free. Certification involves a bro...
[two-thirds-first]Tree nuts are among the regulated common allergens in South Africa, and include almond, Brazil nut, cashew nut, hazelnut, macadamia nut, pecan nut, pistachio nut and walnut. For individuals with tree nut allergies, even small amounts of the nut(s) to which they are allergic can ...