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Labels on all food sold across Australia must now have consistent allergen information following the end of a transition to Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) this month.
Introduced in February 2021, PEAL mandates businesses to use set names for the most common food allergens in a consistent format. The allergens must be in bold in the ingredient list (if one is required) and featured in a separate allergen summary statement.
For foods sold without a label, such as in self-serve settings, or cafes and restaurants, businesses must either display the allergen information with the food or provide it if a customer asks.
Before PEAL, laws did not specify how or where allergen information must be displayed on food labels. Manufacturers could use chemical and biological names instead of common terms and the format was inconsistent.
Food businesses were required to follow PEAL labelling requirements for foods made after 25 February 2024, though older stock could remain on shelves until 25 February 2026.
For more information about food allergen labelling, see Food allergen rules.