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Issue Number: Council III 002
Title
Issue you would like the Conference to consider
Expand section 3-101.11 to provide greater guidance on food allergens. Also expand section 3-602.11 to reflect the existing labeling requirement to include the common name in plain English of all allergens in the ingredient section.
Public Health Significance
Six to seven million people in the United States have food allergies. Food allergens cause an estimated 30,000 ER visits with 150-200 deaths yearly.
Recommended Solution: The Conference recommends...
charging the Allergen Committee with the following:
- to develop recommended Food Code language changes to Section 3-101.11 and 3.602.11 to list possible cross-contamination sources (such as common hot-oil fryers, sanitized surfaces that have not been cleaned, dish machines with food debris, product thermometers, wiping cloth sanitizer solutions, airborne wheat flour, and ingredients such as barley, oats, and rye (which may be cross-contaminated with wheat during harvest and storage).
- to work with the FDA to finalize a definition for "gluten-free" and provide clarification for facilities that identify an allergen-free food and any necessary verification to their nutritional claims.
- to report back to the 2012 Biennial Meeting of the Conference for Food Protection.