People with allergies to dairy and fish are advised not to buy vegan products without carefully checking the labels, as they may contain animal products due to cross-contamination.
Research released by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) shows that 62% of people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have had an allergic reaction to, or purchased, animal-based products, as it launches a campaign to make consumers aware these dangers. For others who do, they believe that vegan products are always safe to eat.
The campaign encourages people with allergies to milk, eggs, fish and crustaceans to check precautionary statements such as “may contain” when food allergens may be present.
“Worryingly, many people with allergies to milk, eggs, fish and crustaceans or molluscs believe that foods labeled as vegan are safe for them because they believe they do not contain products of animal origin, said Emily Miles, chief executive of the UK Financial Services Authority.
“Unfortunately, the realities of food production mean that if vegan and plant-based products are produced in the same factory as animal-based products, there is still a risk of cross-contamination with animal-based allergens.”
Last year, scientists discovered that nearly two dozen foods labeled as vegan contained animal products, prompting experts to warn consumers with severe allergies that they could face “tragic consequences.” Trading standards chiefs have called for legal protections to stop consumers “being taken advantage of by unscrupulous food businesses”.
The FSA campaign explains how ingredient-free labels (food safety labels) differ from vegan or plant-based labels. Vegan labels are used to support dietary choices and these products do not intentionally contain products of animal origin. Vegan foods can still be prepared next to products like eggs or milk, but foods without additives cannot.
To use ingredient-free labels, food companies must follow strict processes to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination so they don’t contain any allergens they claim they don’t contain.
The UK’s three leading allergy charities – Allergy UK, Allergy UK and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation – issued a joint statement saying they heard every day “people with food allergies and their families are struggling with their choices” They face difficulties finding food that is safe for them.” eat”.
They said: “This worrying research shows that many people with allergies to animal-derived products are buying vegan and plant-based foods assuming they are safe to eat without taking further precautions to check labels.”
Claire Ogli, of the Vegan Society, said clear labeling was “very important for people following a vegan diet, and accurate labeling is particularly important for people with food allergies”.
She said: “Our vegan label shows that our products meet our strict vegan standards where feasible and possible and that efforts have been made to avoid cross-contamination. However, it is important that people understand the vegan label and It does not necessarily mean that the product is allergen-free.”
FSA recently updated Food labeling technical guidance For food companies. The update advises businesses to use precautionary allergen labels (PAL) in conjunction with vegan labels where cross-contamination cannot be ruled out.
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