Sylvia Pfaff
Food Information Service
Germany
Title: Regulatory measures needed on unintentional allergen cross contamination
Biography
Biography: Sylvia Pfaff
Abstract
The management of unintentional allergen presence has a lot of approaches worldwide. In some countries only the detection of undeclared allergens lead to a recall. On the other hand, some countries do not even inform allergic consumers after the detection of allergens if this is caused by cross-contamination. Both approaches cannot be right. We have to define when the allergic consumer is at risk (how much is too much), how to manage allergens in the food production (what are the best steps in an allergen management system) and how to react if unintentional allergen presence is detected (how to assess the risk, what kind of measurements are necessary, how to inform the allergic consumer). In this Breakout Session, we will highlight the issue from different angles. This speech will cover: Setting the scene – why is regulation of allergen cross contamination important? Summary of German stakeholder conference November 2015 - tolerable reactions after allergen intake, protection of allergic consumers, agreed action level for peanut and portion size and gaps in research and analysis and further steps and measurements of regulators.