Abstract

LOPEZ, Laura Beatriz; MARTIN, María Eugenia  and  RONAYNE DE FERRER, Patricia Ana. Food allergen labeling in food products usually consumed by children. Diaeta [online]. 2016, vol.34, n.155, pp.15-24. ISSN 1852-7337.

Since 2011 there have been no active regulations in Argentina regarding the declaration of allergens on food labels. However, numerous food products have been declaring allergens on their labels. The aim of this study was to analyse allergen declaration on food labels that usually eat children under 5 years old, in order to observe how food companies make the declaration of allergens and its changes throughout time, both in the declaration of allergens and possible precautionary statements. To identify changes over time, twenty one labels of food products such as sweet baked products and cereal bars, sweet cookies and crackers, extruded and textured products and powdered foods were analysed in 2012 and 2014. Some of the differences that were found include: addition of several allergens in precautionary statements; correction of incorrect declaration of food allergens (cocoa and ethyl vanillin); declaration of allergens in products that did not declare them originally. However, some inconsistencies were found both, in 2012 and 2014: some products include the statement "Contains:" allergens that are not present in the list of ingredients; omission of the warning "contains soy derivatives" in foods with soy lecithin; inclusion of precautionary phrases with an extensive list of food allergens. Even though the declaration of allergens is not mandatory, those manufacturers who choose to include it should do it in a responsible way. This is particularly important in foods aimed at young children.

Keywords : Allergens; Labels; Precautionary phrases; Children's foods.

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