Precautionary Allergen Labelling: Towards a EU rule for PAL?
The global rise in food allergies and the intricacies of allergen risk management necessitate a re-evaluation of Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) practices. The 2022 WHO-FAO report offers a robust scientific foundation with health-based guidance values (reference doses), yet PAL's inconsistent application leads to consumer confusion and distrust. Since January 2024, The Netherlands decided that the PAL warning should be on the pre-packed food only when there is really the possibility that the amount of the allergenic material in the portion of the product exceed the Reference Dose indicated by the WHO/FAO document. So, The Netherlands grapples with effectively translating allergen [...]
