Allergen legislation and current guidelines
Allergens are a major concern within food safety. In January 2024, the NVWA launched the renewed statutory allergen policy, which must be implemented on a mandatory basis from January 1, 2026. This policy is detailed in the Guidelines on Cross-contamination of Allergens.
These guidelines clearly describe when a PAL (Precautionary Allergen Labeling) statement is permitted and how to substantiate it with evidence. Allergen management is therefore a dynamic and complex process. We help you gain an overview and meet the applicable requirements.
Allergen analysis and management
We support you with both analysis and assurance of allergens within your organization. Our approach is practical, well-founded and tailored to your processes. Among other things, we help with:
- A baseline measurement with reporting, recommendations and a concrete plan of action
- Setting up or improving an allergen management system according to NVWA requirements and standards such as BRCGS, IFS and FSSC 22000.
- Support with certification, including SimplyOK
- Validation of allergen management via laboratory analysis with ELISA, PCR and steam distillation techniques
- Training of employees from basic knowledge to cross-contamination calculations (PAL)
- Calculation and substantiation of cross-contamination and PAL entries
- Validation of allergen-free claims
- Label checks, including correct allergen listing
Safe handling of allergens
Good allergen management requires cooperation. You know your product and processes, we contribute knowledge of legislation, analyses and risks. Together we ensure clear choices, well-founded decisions and an approach that works in practice.
This means for you:
- You have insight into allergens and cross-contamination risks
- You can demonstrably substantiate PAL statements
- You comply with NVWA guidelines and audit schemes.
- You prevent errors in labeling and claims
- You increase the confidence of customers and regulators
Expert analyses with reliable methods
Our laboratories perform allergen analyses using validated and reliable analytical techniques. Depending on the issue, we use ELISA, PCR and steam distillation, among other methods. This gives you results you can build on: technically and legally.
Ready for the future of allergen management
Attention to allergens is increasing, as are the requirements from legislation and consumers. With a future-oriented approach, we not only help you to be compliant today, but also to remain prepared for changes. This is how we build transparent and safe food chains together.
Selection of our allergen analyses
We can perform analyses for the following allergens and intolerances, among others:
- Gluten*
- Soy*
- Sulfite*
- Lactose*
- Casein*
- β-lactoglobulin*
- Celery*
- Mustard*
- Egg*
- Peanut*
- Hazelnut
- Almond
- Cashew
- Macadamia
- Brazil nut
- Pecan
- Walnut
- Sesame
- Lupin
- Fish
- Crustaceans
- Mollusks
- Lysozyme
* Asked for
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Frequently asked questions about allergen analysis
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A PAL declaration is only permitted if cross-contamination cannot be completely ruled out and this has been demonstrably substantiated in accordance with NVWA guidelines.
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We use ELISA, PCR and steam distillation, depending on the allergen and the purpose of the analysis.
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Analysis is not always mandatory, but it is often necessary to provide verifiable evidence to support claims, PAL statements and allergen management.
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Yes, we provide support for audit schemes such as BRCGS, IFS and FSSC 22000, and assist with preparation and compliance.
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Certainly. We assess labels to ensure that allergens are listed correctly and in full, in accordance with the law.
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Yes, from basic knowledge of allergens to in-depth training on cross-contamination and PAL calculations.