Allergen labeling might seem straightforward, but it’s one of the most common sources of labeling errors and recalls. With FDA allergen requirements evolving—including the addition of sesame and the removal of coconut from the major allergen list—here's a practical refresher to help you stay compliant and avoid costly mistakes. If you manufacture food products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allergen labeling isn’t optional. It’s a critical part of compliance and ... Full Article
Senate Bill 68 – the ‘ADDE’ Act
California’s proposed Senate Bill 68 (the ADDE Act), which would require restaurants to clearly label the nine major allergens on their menus, has passed the state Senate and is now under review in the Assembly Health Committee. Designed to improve safety for the millions of residents with food allergies, the bill has gained support with recent amendments allowing more flexibility and collaboration with the restaurant industry. As similar allergen labeling laws gain traction in other cities ... Full Article
Coconut Excluded as Tree Nut Allergy
The FDA issued new guidance for industry regarding food allergen labeling. As part of the new guidance the FDA updated its previous list of 23 tree nut species requiring food allergen labeling to twelve species. Coconut is one of the species now excluded from the list of “tree nuts” that must follow food allergen labeling requirements. For a complete list of tree nuts that require food allergen labeling, refer to the Guidance for Industry, Table 1, page 15. While “coconut” is no longer ... Full Article
Crustacean Shellfish Allergy
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) requires the identification of Crustacean shellfish, among other allergies. There’s often confusion about what species are considered a Crustacean shellfish. Shellfish have two groups, crustaceans, and mollusks/bivalves. An allergy to crustaceans is more common, requiring identification by the FDA. FALCPA does not require the identification of mollusks and bivalves. Common crustaceans requiring ... Full Article
FDA Food Allergen Labeling
Food Allergen Labeling Laws The 2021 Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act and the 2004 Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) govern the FDA food allergen labeling laws. The FASTER Act mandates the identification of sesame as an allergen on food labels starting January 1, 2023. FALCPA requires the declaration of eight major allergies on food labels, including egg, fish, milk, peanut, soy, shellfish, tree nuts, and wheat. Nine Major ... Full Article
