Plain English Allergen Labelling Good News For Consumers

New requirements to make it easier for people to find
information about common allergies on food labels come into
effect on Sunday.

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS)
deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle says the changes
are good news for people with food allergies.

“For
the up to 8% of New Zealanders who have food allergies the
consequences of eating the wrong food can be serious, from
swelling, hives and vomiting to anaphylaxis.

“People
lead busy lives so food labelling needs to be as simple,
clear and easy to find as possible to be
effective.

“Food Safety Australia New Zealand, with
input from NZFS, got valuable feedback from people affected
by food allergies to help make sure the changes were
effective and practical,” says Mr. Arbuckle.

All
food packaged and labelled after Sunday [25 February 2024]
must declare allergens or provide statements about the
contents where appropriate. The requirements will vary
depending on how the food is packaged, labelled and sold and
risk that needs to be identified. Under the changes,
potentially life-threatening common allergens must be listed
in bold in the ingredients list and summarised in a
‘contains’ statement on the label.

Any food
packaged and labelled before 25 February 2024 under the
previous allergen labelling rules can continue to be sold
until 25 February 2026.

Foods at cafes or restaurants
including takeaways are not required to be labelled but must
be displayed with the food such as listed on the menu, or
provided to the customer on request.

Find out more
labelling on our website: Allergen
declarations, warnings, and advisory statements on food
labels | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz)

If you have
questions about allergen labelling, email info@mpi.govt.nz

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