Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL), Food Safety Glossary
FSANZ requirements in Standard 1.2.3 that force declared allergens to be named in plain, consistent language, shown in bold and summarised in a set format on…
FSANZ requirements in Standard 1.2.3 that force declared allergens to be named in plain, consistent language, shown in bold and summarised in a set format on packaged food. Plain English Allergen Labelling, known as PEAL, is the set of rules introduced by FSANZ to make allergen declarations clearer and more consistent. The requirements sit in Standard 1.2.3 of the Food Standards Code. Before PEAL, allergens could be declared using technical or unfamiliar names, or buried in a long ingredient list, which made it hard for allergic consumers to find them quickly and reliably. PEAL fixes this by requiring specified allergens to be declared using set names in plain English, to appear in bold wherever they occur in the statement of ingredients, and to be gathered together in a separate summary statement introduced by the word Contains. It also standardises how the source of an ingredient is described, so, for example, a wheat-based ingredient must make the word wheat clear rather than relying on a name a shopper may not recognise. PEAL applies to packaged food that requires a label. For a food manufacturer or packer, complying means reviewing every product label so that each declared allergen is bolded in the ingredient list and captured in a Contains summary statement in the required format, using the mandated plain-English names. Any precautionary statement, such as a may be present line, is kept separate from the mandatory Contains statement. There was a transition period after the requirements were introduced, with a stock-in-trade allowance so product labelled under the old rules could continue to be sold for a period. Businesses that make or import packaged food should confirm their labels are fully PEAL-compliant and update artwork whenever an ingredient or supplier changes. PEAL is about the wording and format of the declaration; it does not change which allergens must be declared. A small sauce producer relabels its range for PEAL. In the ingredient list it bolds soy, wheat and fish sauce components, and adds a summary line reading Contains: soy, gluten, fish. Previously the label used the ingredient hydrolysed vegetable protein without making the soy source obvious; under PEAL the soy source is now spelled out so an allergic shopper can identify it at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
Which standard sets out the PEAL requirements?
Plain English Allergen Labelling is set out in Standard 1.2.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. It governs how declared allergens must be named, formatted and summarised on packaged food that requires a label.
What does a compliant PEAL declaration look like?
Declared allergens must be shown in bold wherever they appear in the statement of ingredients and be brought together in a summary statement starting with the word Contains, using the required plain-English names for each allergen source.
Does PEAL change which allergens I have to declare?
No. PEAL changes the wording, format and prominence of allergen declarations. The list of allergens that must be declared is unchanged; PEAL simply makes those declarations clearer and more consistent for consumers.
Does PEAL apply to food sold unpackaged or made on site?
The specific labelling format applies to packaged food requiring a label. For food that is not labelled, allergen information must still be provided, but the detailed PEAL format for the ingredient list and Contains statement is aimed at labelled packaged products.
Where should a may be present statement go under PEAL?
Precautionary statements such as may be present are voluntary and must be kept separate from the mandatory Contains summary statement, so consumers do not confuse a possible trace with a deliberate ingredient.
