Allergen Bureau

Transition from VITAL (Version 1) to VITAL 2.0 – timeline and information

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:15:00 +0000

Review of VITAL (Version 1)

January – December 2011

The Allergen Bureau’s Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labeling (VITAL) system was launched in June 2007 and includes a Procedure document and VITAL Calculator. A scientific review was initiated and the recommendations from the VITAL Scientific Expert Panel (VSEP) were released in November 2011. The Allergen Bureau has begun the process to incorporate the recommendations from the VSEP and suggestions from the food industry into a new version of VITAL which will be known as VITAL 2.0.

During this period, VITAL (Version 1) is still current and available from the Allergen Bureau website.

VITAL 2.0 – Pilot Phase

December 2011 – 16 March 2012

The Pilot Phase of VITAL 2.0 will be conducted with the Businesses who attended the November 2011 Allergen Bureau Information Sessions and Allergen Bureau Member Companies.

The Pilot Phase will include the:

New VITAL Guidance document including the Procedure, ‘The Food Industry Guide to the Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL) Program’, and
Revised VITAL Calculator

During this period, VITAL (Version 1) is still current and available from the Allergen Bureau website. The VITAL 2.0 draft resources will be available only to the Pilot group.

A VITAL boost for world-leading allergen labelling

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:15:00 +0000

Australian consumers will be better protected and informed about the risk of allergens in foods following an international endorsement of the Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL) risk assessment tool, the Australian Food and Grocery Council and Allergen Bureau said in a media release on 26 October 2011.

First developed by the food manufacturing industry in 2007, the world-leading VITAL system allows food producers to assess the impact of allergen cross contact and provides appropriate precautionary labelling on products.

The innovative, risk-based methodology was designed to make a single, standardised precautionary statement available to assist food manufacturers in consistently presenting allergen advice for consumers with allergies.

GS1 Recallnet Webinars

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:08:00 +0000

‘GS1 Recallnet’ is a standardised, industry-driven communication tool enabling organisations of any size to share real-time product recall and withdrawal notifications with their trading partners and regulators. GS1 Australia is hosting a series of webinars until the beginning of December to train the Australian food industry in the new food recall system.

Allergic patients test positive to wine fining agents

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:07:00 +0000

An investigation has been conducted into whether wines fined with egg, milk and fish have the potential to provoke clinical allergic reactions in sensitised patients. The researchers used wine produced in-house using different concentrations of casein, egg albumin and isinglass as fining agents. The fining agents were not detectable in the end product when tested using the available laboratory methods.

Food allergy in Swiss children investigated

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:05:00 +0000

Researchers now based in Western Australia have published a free-access report on the most frequent food allergens causing immediate reactions in Swiss children of different age groups.

Industry Information Sessions on PIF 5.0 and VITAL 2.0

Allergen Bureau — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:10:00 +0000

The Allergen Bureau and the Australian Food and Grocery Council are excited to announce a series of industry information sessions launching the latest PIF 5.0 and VITAL 2.0.

The eliciting dose of peanut in children and young adults

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:29:00 +0000

A recent study has looked at the influence of factors such as age, sex, degree of sensitisation, and coexistent atopic disease on the eliciting dose in double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFCs) in children allergic to peanut.

Consumer interpretation of ‘may contain’ labels

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:27:00 +0000

Earlier in the year we reported results from a novel study in the UK that tracked the behaviour and 'thinking aloud' of 32 peanut and nut-allergic adults while they selected food products during a regular shopping trip. Another paper has recently been published to report on how peanut and nut allergic adults in the study interpreted 'may contain' labelling and how they use this information when purchasing food.

Summary of Norwegian Food Allergy Registry data

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:25:00 +0000

The Norwegian Food Allergy Register was started in July 2000 as a collaborative venture between the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Food Safety Agency. The register collects information from first line doctors in Norway who report severe allergic reactions to food on a voluntary basis. The register also surveys food products in relation to allergen labelling and contamination.

Australian account of the global allergy epidemic

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 01:18:00 +0000

Winthrop Professor Susan Prescott, from The University of Western Australia, is internationally recognised for her research in the area of allergy and early immune development. She has recently written a book entitled ‘Allergy Epidemic: A Mystery of Modern Life’ which details the latest research in this field, including up-to-date statistics and disease predictions.