How to label allergens on packaged food in Australia under PEAL and Standard 1.2.3: bold text, required plain-English names, the "Contains" summary statement,…
Packaged food sold in Australia must declare allergens using Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) under Standard 1.2.3 of the Food Standards Code. In practice each declared allergen must appear in bold in the ingredients list every time it occurs, plus a separate bold summary statement that begins with the word "Contains" in the same field of view. Specified plain-English names are mandatory. Always confirm your obligations with FSANZ and your state or territory food regulator. Key takeaways: PEAL was introduced into the Food Standards Code on 25 February 2021. A three-year transition period ended on 25 February 2024, and food packaged and labelled before that date could be sold through until 25 February 2026 - so packaged food on sale now generally must comply.. Declared allergens must appear in bold in the ingredients list every time they occur, and again in a separate bold summary statement that begins with the word 'Contains'.. You must use the specified plain-English names - for example 'milk', 'wheat', 'cashew', 'fish' - not vague terms like 'seafood', 'tree nuts' or a supplier code.. The 'Contains' summary statement must sit in the same field of view as, and directly next to, the ingredients list.. How the rules are enforced can vary by jurisdiction, so confirm your exact obligations with FSANZ and your state or territory food regulator.. What PEAL is and why it changed Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) is the set of allergen declaration rules introduced into the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code through FSANZ Proposal P1044. It amended Standard 1.2.3 (Information requirements - warning statements, advisory statements and declarations) and the related Schedule 9, which lists the mandatory declarations and the specific names that must be used. The change was driven by a simple safety problem: under the old rules, allergens could be buried in an ingredients list, written in technical or inconsistent language, or grouped under broad terms like 'seafood' or 'tree nuts'. That made labels hard to read quickly for people managing life-threatening allergies. PEAL standardises the language and the placement so a consumer can scan a label and find the information reliably. The PEAL amendments were made to the Code on 25 February 2021. Businesses were given a three-year transition period, which ended on 25 February 2024 - the date from which packaged food generally has to meet the PEAL format. In addition, a stock-in-trade allowance let food that was packaged and labelled before 25 February 2024 (and that complied with the previous rules) continue to be sold until 25 February 2026. Because enforcement is carried out by state and territory regulators, confirm how the rules apply to your specific products with FSANZ and your local food authority. Which allergens must be declared Standard 1.2.3, read with Schedule 9, requires certain foods and substances to be declared whenever they are present as an ingredient, a component of an ingredient, a food additive, or a processing aid. The declared allergens generally are: Added sulphites in a concentration of 10 mg/kg or more; cereals containing gluten (declared by their specific grain name - wheat, rye, barley, oats and their hybridised strains); crustacea; egg; fish; milk; molluscs; peanut; sesame; soy; lupin; and tree nuts. A central PEAL change is specificity. Tree nuts must be named individually - almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pine nut, pistachio or walnut - rather than grouped as 'tree nuts'. Similarly, fish, crustacea and molluscs must each be named where present, rather than lumped together as 'seafood'. This individual naming lets consumers distinguish, for example, a cashew allergy from a hazelnut allergy. For gluten sources, the specific cereal (such as wheat) is declared in the ingredients list, and where the food contains gluten the word 'gluten' is also included in the summary statement. Use the specific grain (wheat, rye, barley, oats) rather than only a generic 'gluten' or 'cereals' reference, and include 'gluten' in the summary statement where gluten is present. Name each tree nut individually - 'almond', 'cashew', 'walnut' - not 'tree nuts'. Name fish, crustacea and molluscs separately - never 'seafood' alone. Declare added sulphites when present at 10 mg/kg or more. Declaration applies to ingredients, components of ingredients, additives and processing aids. The two-part format: bold ingredients plus a summary statement PEAL requires each declared allergen to appear in two places on the label, and to stand out in the ingredients list. First, in the statement of ingredients: the allergen's specified name must be shown in bold font, every time it appears, at a font size no smaller than that used for the other ingredients. Where an allergen is inside a compound ingredient, it is typically shown in bold in brackets - for example, 'maltodextrin (wheat)' or 'vegetable oil (soy)'. Where milk powder is listed, the required name 'milk' must appear in bold. Second, a separate allergen summary statement. This is a distinct statement that begins with the word 'Contains' in bold, followed by each declared allergen in bold, for example: 'Contains milk, wheat, almond.' The summary is not a substitute for the ingredients-list declarations - both are required. The summary gives an at-a-glance list; the ingredients list shows exactly where each allergen sits. Placement, font and the 'same field of view' rule Placement matters as much as wording. The 'Contains' summary statement must appear in the same field of view as the statement of ingredients - meaning both are visible together without turning the package - and directly next to (typically immediately below or beside) the ingredients list. Separating the summary from the ingredients, or putting it on another panel, does not meet the requirement. The summary statement is a separate statement to the ingredients list, and both the bolded allergen names in t
How to build a PEAL-compliant allergen declaration
Go through each ingredient, component of a compound ingredient, food additive and processing aid. Flag anything that is, or contains, a declared allergen from Standard 1.2.3 / Schedule 9.
Replace generic or technical terms with the specified names - e.g. 'almond' or 'cashew' instead of 'tree nuts', 'fish' instead of 'seafood', 'milk' instead of 'casein' or 'whey' alone. Name the specific grain for gluten sources, and include 'gluten' in the summary where present.
Show every declared allergen in bold font at each occurrence, at a size no smaller than the surrounding ingredient text. For allergens inside compound ingredients, bold the allergen name, typically in brackets, e.g. 'stock (fish)'.
Directly next to the ingredients list and in the same field of view, add a separate statement beginning with the bold word 'Contains', listing each declared allergen in bold.
Only after a genuine cross-contact risk assessment (for example using VITAL), decide whether a 'may contain' statement is warranted. Keep it clearly separate from the mandatory 'Contains' summary.
Approve the label against your food safety and supplier processes, keep a dated record, and re-verify whenever an ingredient, supplier or specification changes.
Frequently asked questions
What does PEAL stand for and which standard sets it?
PEAL stands for Plain English Allergen Labelling. It is set out in Standard 1.2.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, together with Schedule 9, and was introduced through FSANZ Proposal P1044. It standardises the names and format used to declare allergens on packaged food so consumers can identify them quickly and reliably.
When did PEAL become mandatory?
The PEAL amendments were made to the Code on 25 February 2021, with a three-year transition period that ended on 25 February 2024. Food packaged and labelled before 25 February 2024 that met the previous rules could be sold through until 25 February 2026. Packaged food on sale now generally must comply. Confirm how the timing applies to your products with your state or territory food regulator.
Do I need both bold allergens in the ingredients list and a 'Contains' statement?
Yes. Both are required and one does not replace the other. Each declared allergen must appear in bold in the statement of ingredients every time it occurs, and there must also be a separate summary statement beginning with the bold word 'Contains' that lists the allergens. The summary gives an at-a-glance view; the ingredients list shows where each allergen sits.
Can I still write 'tree nuts' or 'seafood' on the label?
Generally no. PEAL requires specific plain-English names. Tree nuts must be named individually, such as almond, cashew or walnut, and fish, crustacea and molluscs must each be named separately rather than grouped as 'seafood'. This lets consumers distinguish between allergens they can and cannot tolerate. Check the exact required names in Schedule 9.
Does PEAL cover 'may contain traces' statements?
No. PEAL governs declaration of allergens deliberately present in the food. Precautionary 'may contain' statements about unintended cross-contact are voluntary and separate. They should only be used after a genuine risk assessment, such as through the Allergen Bureau's VITAL program, and must be kept distinct from the mandatory 'Contains' summary.
Where exactly must the 'Contains' statement appear?
It must be in the same field of view as the statement of ingredients - visible together without turning the package - and directly next to it, typically immediately below or beside the ingredients list. It is a separate statement in bold font. Placing it on a different panel, or away from the ingredients list, does not meet the requirement.