Pediatric Allergology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome.
Department of Women, Children, and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 Jun 1;24(3):166-170. doi: 10.1097/ACI.0000000000000979. Epub 2024 Mar 28.
The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the perspectives regarding precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) of prepackaged foods following the consultation conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the WHO.
The FAO/WHO consultation provided a comprehensive assessment of the current status and practices of PAL implementation worldwide. One of the key findings highlighted by the Expert Committee was the need for improvement in existing PAL systems. It was noted that many countries lacked uniformity in PAL practices, leading to inconsistencies in labelling and potentially misleading information for consumers. Furthermore, the consultation emphasized the importance of PAL being risk-based, taking into account both the amount and frequency of unintended allergen presence (UAP) in food products.
The FAO/WHO consultation shed light on various perspectives and challenges associated with PAL of prepackaged foods. Key findings emphasized the need for improvement in existing PAL systems, including the adoption of a risk-based approach, standardized regulations, and enhanced transparency. Moving forward, collaborative efforts between regulatory agencies, food manufacturers, and consumer advocacy groups will be essential in developing effective PAL strategies that prioritize consumer safety and well being.
本综述旨在概述在粮农组织（FAO）和世界卫生组织（WHO）开展磋商之后，对于预包装食品采用预防性过敏原标签（PAL）的观点。
FAO/WHO 磋商对全球 PAL 实施的现状和做法进行了全面评估。专家委员会强调指出，需要改进现有的 PAL 系统，这是主要发现之一。据指出，许多国家在 PAL 做法方面缺乏一致性，导致标签不一致，并且可能向消费者提供误导性信息。此外，磋商强调了 PAL 应基于风险的重要性，同时考虑到食品中无意存在的过敏原（UAP）的数量和频率。
FAO/WHO 磋商阐明了与预包装食品 PAL 相关的各种观点和挑战。主要发现强调了需要改进现有的 PAL 系统，包括采用基于风险的方法、标准化法规和提高透明度。展望未来，监管机构、食品制造商和消费者权益团体之间的协作对于制定优先考虑消费者安全和健康的有效 PAL 策略至关重要。
