As an observer to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, EFA continues contributing to all discussions related to food allergens. One of them is the development of Guidelines on the Use of Technology to Provide Food Information in Food Labelling. This process, much like the guidelines for food e-commerce, started in 2022 and is nearing conclusion. As digital tools like mobile apps, QR codes, and barcodes are increasingly used for food information, ensuring these tools serve consumers safely — especially those with allergies is crucial.
Why Tech Labels Matter for Food Allergy Consumers
EFA is supportive of technology-driven tools to provide information on pre-packed food. However, EFA firmly believes that technology can in no way replace on-pack information. When it comes to food information linked to health and safety, barriers linked to access and digital literacy can be critical and lead to health risks. For consumers with food allergies, easily accessible, reliable information can be life-saving. Here is what EFA is emphasising in the latest Codex consultation:
Consistency Across Physical and Digital Labels
Food information provided on the physical label and digital means must match at all times - especially for health and safety aspects such as allergens. Recipe changes or ingredient updates must be synchronised across both physical and digital formats to avoid gaps.
Clear identification of allergen information
Both mandatory and voluntary food information (such as Precautionary Allergen Labelling [PAL]) is vital for patients and should be easily identifiable, ensuring nothing is hard to find.
Direct accessibility and safety info
The access to health and safety information such as allergens (mandatory and voluntary) must be directly linked to the food product – rather than the place where it is sold. For example, if someone purchases food using technology but shares it with someone who does not have digital access, essential allergy information could be lost. Ensuring universal, direct access to allergen details keeps everyone safer.
As always, we would like to thank our members in the Food Allergy Working Group for their commitment and help for this submission.
You may find the full EFA response to this consultation here. Past EFA submissions on the same issue can be found here, here, and here.