Allergen Labelling

For those with food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances, avoiding specific foods and ingredients is an important health challenge. An allergic individual coming into contact with an undeclared allergen such as peanuts in a food product may have symptoms that develop quickly and rapidly progress from mild to severe, including anaphylactic shock and death. For those suffering from celiac disease, the only current treatment is to maintain a strict gluten-free diet.

Health Canada has Published its Proposed Amendments to the Food Allergen Labelling Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I (CGI)

The Food and Drug Regulations require that most prepackaged foods carry a label and that the ingredients appear on labels in decreasing order of proportion. However, some ingredients used in food products are currently exempt from declaration in the list of ingredients, e.g., components of margarine, seasoning and flour.

Based on consultations with stakeholders, including allergy associations and the medical community, Health Canada has developed amendments to the Regulations to enhance labelling requirements for specific priority allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites in prepackaged foods sold in Canada.

Health Canada has published its proposed regulatory amendments in Canada Gazette, Part I, on July 26, 2008 to allow for public comment. Health Canada will take into consideration any comments received until November 28, 2008 before bringing the final regulations forward and publishing them in the Canada Gazette, Part II. For information on the federal government's regulatory process, www.regulation.gc.ca

For more information on the proposed Food Allergen Labelling Regulatory Amendments, please see the following information:

• Background document: Newly Proposed Labelling Requirements for Food Allergens, Gluten Sources and Added Sulphites.
• Government of Canada Announces Proposed New Labelling Requirements to Protect Health of Canadians (News Release)
• Health Canada Reviews Comments Received on Regulatory Project 1220 - Enhanced Labelling for Food Allergens and Gluten Sources and Added Sulphites
• Health Canada's Proposed Amendments to the Food Allergen Labelling Regulations
• Questions and Answers on the New Regulations to Enhance the Labelling of Food Allergens, Gluten Sources and Added Sulphites.

Health Canada has also issued an updated guidance to industry, urging food manufacturers to enhance labelling of priority allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites in prepackaged foods.

Updates

• Garlic & Onions: Insufficient Evidence to Include on the List of Priority Food Allergens in Canada - A Systematic Review
• Health Canada's Proposal to Update the Canadian List of Food Allergens Requiring Enhanced Labelling
• Mustard: A Priority Food Allergen in Canada - A Systematic Review
• Proposed Exemptions from Food Allergen Declaration for Fining Agents and Wax Coatings
• The Canadian Criteria For The Establishment of New Priority Food Allergens

Other information

Health Canada is reviewing its policy on the use of food allergen precautionary statements on prepackaged foods.

• Consultation on Precautionary Labelling of Food Allergens
• Health Canada's Position on the use of Food Allergen Precautionary Statements on Prepackaged Foods (2007)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued notices reminding food manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of their responsibility to ensure that the foods they sell are safe for all consumers, including those with food allergies.

See Declaration of Food Allergens - Prepackaged Foods

Information on Food Allergies and Intolerances