Nutrition & Foodservice Edge Magazine - July/August 2024 - 32

REALIGN TO NINE: FOCUS ON FOOD ALLERGIES
on the label. For example, buttermilk
plainly stated on the food ingredients
identifies that milk is present. If this
is not the case, the ingredients must be
listed in plain language in one of two
ways:
* The name of the food source can
appear following the name of
the ingredient in parentheses.
Examples: gingelly (sesame), whey
(milk), bulgur (wheat), OR
* It can be listed immediately at
the end of the list in a separate
statement after the word " Contains. "
Example: " Contains: sesame, milk,
and wheat. "
Remember, sesame did not officially
become a food allergen until January
2023 under the FASTER Act. This
means that you still may find some
food products on your shelf that do not
list sesame as an allergen. If there is
a client with this food allergy, check
the products in your storeroom or
consult the manufacturer regarding
the ingredients.
TICK.
REALIGNMENT #7 :
REALIGNMENT #8 :
Food Labels that Say 'May
Contain' On the Packaging
As stated earlier, if the label says
" Contains " with a listing of allergens
after it, one can assume that those
allergens are present. What about
a package that says, " may contain "
or " produced in a facility that
processes... " ? Should those foods be
avoided? This means there is a chance
that an allergen may be present in
the food and the manufacturer is
making it known. They might make
different foods on shared equipment,
and despite best efforts to clean in
between runs of distinct products,
it could still be present. With food
safety, the mantra is " when in doubt,
throw it out. " When dealing with
food allergies, the mantra is " when in
doubt, leave it out " or exclude products
that may contain the food allergen.
From a safety standpoint, this is the
best option. It's better to be safe than
sorry. (FDA, " Have Food Allergies? Read
the Label " , 2021).
TICK.
Food Allergies and the
Food Code
The 2022 FDA Food Code updated
the requirements for foodservice
establishments regarding food
allergies. It not only requires food
safety training, but also allergy
awareness training. Two amendments
to the previous Food Code are directly
related to the food allergies discussed
here. They are:
* Amended §1-201.10(B) to revise the
definition of the term, " Major Food
Allergen " in subparagraph (1)(a) to
add sesame as the ninth major food
allergen, effective January 1, 2023,
and
* Amended ¶2-103.11(N) (now ¶2103.11(O)
in the 2022 Food Code)
to include what foods allergy
awareness includes.
As a CDM, CFPP it is crucial that you
know that allergy training is your
responsibility as you work in the
foodservice environment.
TICK.
IF THE LABEL SAYS
" CONTAINS "
with a listing of allergens
after it, one can assume
that those allergens are
present.
32 NUTRITION & F OOD SER VICE EDGE | JULY-AUGUST 2024
Nutrition & Foodservice Edge Magazine - July/August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Nutrition & Foodservice Edge Magazine - July/August 2024
