Legal obligations around allergenic foods
In NSW, food service and food retail operations are regulated by the:
- Food Standards Code
- Food Act 2003
- Food Regulation 2010
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code is a collection of individual food standards, which have the force of law. It is a criminal offence in Australia if a food business does not comply with relevant food standards. Requirements for the declaration of allergens are covered in the Food Standards Code.
Standard 1.2.3 of the Code specifies requirements for the mandatory declaration of certain substances in food. For most packaged food, the information must appear on the label. If the food is not packaged, the information must be provided on or in connection with the display of the food or to the purchaser upon request.
What substances must be declared?
- crustacea and their products
- egg and egg products
- fish and fish products
- milk and milk products
- peanuts and their products
- soybeans and their products
- tree nuts and their products
- sesame seeds and their products
- added sulphites in concentrations of 10 mg/kg or more
- cereals containing gluten and their products, namely, wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt and their hybridised strains
The listed substances must be declared when present as:
- an ingredient
- an ingredient of a compound ingredient (eg in a sauce or dressing)
- a food additive or component of a food additive a processing aid or component of a processing aid
Related sites
- Food Labelling Fact Sheet
Food labelling rules under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - FSANZ research
2003 consumer survey conducted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) into food labelling issues - Food Alerts
Current food recalls listed on the FSANZ website - Food labelling
Explanation on reading food labels on the FASANZ website - ASCIA: The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
website provides a list of allergy and clinical immunologists in Australia and New Zealand and resources for sufferers of anaphylaxis, educators and allied health professionals. - Health Insite
Links to information about food hypersensitivities and allergies - Anaphylaxis Australia
A comprehensive website containing information on anaphylaxis for sufferers, the food industry, educators and health professionals - Coeliac Society
The Coeliac Society of Australia’s website provides information on coeliac disease, symptoms and diet - Peanut Allergy
Fact Sheets on peanut allergies from NSW Health in various languages. - NSW Health
Information on allergies and anaphylaxis. Provides details of NSW Anaphylaxis Educators and Anaphylaxis Guidelines for schools
Also on this site
- FSANZ Food Labelling Fact Sheet
Food labelling rules under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - FSANZ research
2003 Quantitative consumer survey on Allergen labelling conducted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) - Food Recalls Alerts
Current food recalls listed on the FSANZ website - Food labelling
Explanation on reading food labels on the FASANZ website - ASCIA: The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
website provides a list of allergy and clinical immunologists in Australia and New Zealand and resources for sufferers of anaphylaxis, educators and allied health professionals. - Health Insite
Links to information about food hypersensitivities and allergies - Anaphylaxis Australia
A comprehensive website containing information on anaphylaxis for sufferers, the food industry, educators and health professionals - Coeliac Society
The Coeliac Society of Australia’s website provides information on coeliac disease, symptoms and diet - NSW Health
Information on allergies and anaphylaxis. Provides details of NSW Anaphylaxis Educators and Anaphylaxis Guidelines for schools
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