Around the world, people grapple with food allergies and hypersensitivities. While there are prevention and therapeutic strategies, there is currently no cure for food allergies. This means that accurate food labeling emerges as a crucial factor in preventing severe health consequences. From mild symptoms to life-threatening reactions, understanding and managing these allergies is paramount.
Dangers of Food Allergies
The immune system reacts after consuming certain food, which can trigger digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. It can even be life-threatening, such as an anaphylactic shock.
Ensuring Accuracy in Food Labeling
To protect consumers with food allergies, food agencies have enforced strict regulations that mandate companies to list ingredients on packaged foods and beverages. Specific labeling requirements exist for foods or substances known to cause allergies or hypersensitivity reactions. It is imperative for everyone in the food distribution chain, from manufacturers to distributors, to collaborate and guarantee accurate food product labeling.
There are more than 160 foods that can cause allergic reactions in people with food allergies, but fourteen of them account for many allergic reactions to food. These are:
- Celery
- Cereals containing gluten (such as wheat, barley, and oats)
- Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs, and lobsters)
- Eggs
- Fish
- Lupin
- Milk
- Molluscs (such as mussels and oysters)
- Mustard
- Peanuts
- Sesame
- Soybeans
- Sulphur dioxide and sulfites
- Tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts)
The Dangers of Inaccurate Labeling: A Case Study
In 2016, a teenager suffered a fatal allergic reaction after consuming a sandwich at the airport that contained undisclosed sesame. The lack of proper labeling led to severe symptoms during the flight, prompting the company responsible to settle for damages. This case underscored the urgent need for accurate labeling in both fresh and packaged foods.
How can we help?
Our cutting-edge laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 in Dubai plays a pivotal role in ensuring food safety. Through advanced testing methods like ELISA and RT-PCR, we can determine the presence of a wide array of allergens in both fresh and packaged foods. By partnering with SGS, companies can enhance their commitment to accurate food labeling, contributing to the overall safety and well-being of consumers with food allergies.
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 99,600 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.
