Food Allergens

Syed Zia ul Hassan

Manager QA-Hygiene
Movenpick Hotel Karachi
 Food Allergen Basics

The role of the immune system is to protect the body from

germs and diseases

A food allergy is an abnormal response by the immune system

to a food protein

When the food is eaten, the immune system thinks the food is
harmful and releases histamine(a compound which is released by
cells in response to injury/allergy) and other chemicals to “attack”
the enemy

Almost all known food allergens are proteins;

8 Major Food Allergens
 Some facts about food allergen
• Each year, many peoples have allergic reactions to food.

• 2-5% population of the world is allergic to food.

• Most food allergies cause relatively mild and minor

symptoms.

• Some food allergies can cause severe reactions, and may

even be life-threatening.
 Allergic reactions can include:
 Coughing or
wheezing
 Hives

 Dizziness and/or
 Flushed skin or lightheadedness
rash

 Face, tongue, or  Abdominal cramps

lip swelling

 Vomiting and/or
diarrhea
 1. Cereals containing gluten
I. Wheat,
II. rye,
III. barley,
IV. oats
and their products
Except:
a) Wheat based glucose syrups including dextrose
b) Wheat based maltodextrins
c) Glucose syrups based on barley
d) Cereals used for making alcoholic distillates including ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin
 2. Milk
Milk and products
Skimmed milk
Casein
Whey protein and powder
Lactose
Cheese
Butter
Except
• a) Whey used for making alcoholic distillates including ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin
• b) Lactitol
 3. Egg

Egg and its products

Whole egg
Egg Powder
Egg white
Egg Yolk
 4. Peanut
Peanuts and products
Peanut Grit
Peanut butter
 5. Tree Nuts

Almond,
Hazelnut,
Walnut, cashew,
Pistachio nut and
Coconuts
 6. Soybean
Soybeans and products
Soya protein
Soy milk

Except:
• a) Fully refined soybean oil and fat
• b) Natural mixed tocopherols (E306), natural D-alphatocopherols, natural D-alpha
tocopherol acetate and natural D-alpha tocopherol succinate from soybean sources
• c) Vegetable oils derived phytosterols and phytosterol esters from soybean sources
 7. Fish

Fish and products,

Except:
a) Fish gelatin used as carrier for vitamin or carotenoid preparations
b) Fish gelatin or Isinglass used as a fining agent in beer and wine
 8. Crustaceans

Crustaceans and their products

prawns,

lobster,

crabs

crayfish
 9. Sulfites
Sulfites above 10 ppm
1. Sodium Sulfite
2. Sodium metabisulfite (SMS)
Note: (Sulfites are used as a food preservative
or enhancer)
 How Major Food Allergens Are Labelled
The name of the food source of a
major food allergen must appear:

1. In parentheses following the

name of the ingredient.
Examples: “lecithin (soy),” “flour
(wheat),” and “whey (milk)”

— OR —

2. Immediately after or next to the

list of ingredients in a “contains”
statement.
Example: “Contains Wheat, Milk, and
Soy.”
 Food Allergen “Advisory” Labeling
FDA guidance for the food industry states that food allergen advisory statements,
e.g.,

“may contain [allergen]”

or
“produced in a facility that also uses [allergen]”

should not be used as a substitute for

adhering to current good manufacturing practices and
must be truthful and not misleading.
 Identification of allergen
1. Wheat Flour 21. Baking Powder
2. Vegetable Fat 22. Salt
3. Sugar 23. Invert Syrup
4. Eggs 24. Butter
5. Peanuts 25. Chocolate Chip
6. Pistachio 26. Sodium Metabisulfite
7. Raisin 27. Enzyme
8. Zeera 28. Chickpea
9. Embonax 29. Soybean Oil
10. Yeast 30. Palm Olein Oil
11. Soy lecithin 31. Cardamom
12. Malt Extract 32. Dextrin
13. Liquid Glucose 33. Dextrose
14. Coconut Oil 34. Admul Datum
15. Desiccated Coconut 35. Instant Milk Powder
16. Bran 36. Bake Stable Jam
17. Skimmed Milk Powder 37. Colors & Flavors
18. Milk Whey Powder
19. Sodium Bicarbonate
20. Ammonium Bicarbonate
 Base Documents
1. Allergen bureau of Australia and new Zealand

2. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

3. Agri-Food Canada

4. Codex Alimintarious - FAO

Thank you all…