Accurate allergen labeling is important in any food safety plan. Cross-contact problems can make any label ineffective.
Make sure labels contain accurate information about ingredients that may be allergens and ensure that the right label is on the package. Your suppliers should accurately identify allergens in the products they provide, and packaging suppliers should accurately print ingredient information on the labels.
To make sure ingredients and products all have the correct labels to track potential allergens, you might monitor continuously with a bar-code scanner. If that technology is not available to you, you might check labels periodically by visually inspecting them.
Here is an example of an Allergen Preventive Controls form showing packaging controls that may have been identified on the Hazard Analysis form.
Allergen Preventive Control form with labeling
| ALLERGEN CONTROLS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRODUCT: | PAGE 1 of ___________ | ||||||||
| FACILITY: | ISSUE DATE: | ||||||||
| ADDRESS: | |||||||||
| Allergen Control | Hazard(s) | Critical Limits | Monitoring | Corrective Action | Verification | Records | |||
| What | How | How often | Who | ||||||
| Receiving packaging material – Labels | Undeclared allergen (peanuts) | Correct Ingredient and allergen information is printed on the label | Presence of peanut in ingredient list and “contains” statement on label | Visual inspection to ensure all allergens in the formula are on the label | Each batch of printed labels before release to production | Label Coordinator | Reject label, request replacement with correct information from label printer | Label coordinator verifies declared allergens match current formula monthly and each formula change. Review records | Product label review Ingredient formula Corrective action records |
| Label verification Label, code step | Undeclared allergens – peanuts | Correct labels are loaded onto labelling equipment | Correct label is loaded onto labeling equipment | Visual Inspection | Each time labels are loaded onto machine | Operator | Return material to warehouse, request correct labelling | Verify label review procedure Review records to evaluate trends | Allergen label check log Production deviation log |
Later, you will verify that the labels are effective at preventing allergens from getting into products unintentionally.
