Allergen Bureau

The Allergen Bureau Ltd

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:50:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that the Allergen Bureau became incorporated as 'The Allergen Bureau Ltd' on 22 March 2013! We thank all of our Founding Members and Member Companies for their support since the Allergen Bureau commenced in 2005. The Allergen Bureau Board looks forward to working with all of you in this next stage of our journey.

Your Allergen Bureau Board is:

Kirsten Grinter, Allergen Bureau President (Nestle);
Robin Sherlock, Allergen Bureau Vice President (DTS FACTA);
Neil Smith, Honorary Treasurer (Kraft Foods); and
Julie Newlands, Honorary Secretary (Unilever Australasia)

These Directors provide voluntary, unpaid services to the Allergen Bureau and we gratefully acknowledge the generous support they receive from their employer companies in this capacity.

Industry Seminar 2013 Presentations

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:59:00 +0000

Following on from our highly successful 2013 Allergen Bureau Industry Seminars in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, the Allergen Bureau are pleased to now make available the presentations from these events.

The main objective of these seminars was to keep industry informed about current activities around allergen management and to increase awareness of Allergen Bureau priority projects.

Click here to view the presentations.

Allergen Bureau & VITAL Industry Seminars – April 2013

Allergen Bureau — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:04:00 +0000

The Allergen Bureau is pleased to announce a series of industry seminars showcasing our future plans and directions for VITAL.

Advertise on the Allergen Bureau Services Directory

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 01:10:00 +0000

The Allergen Bureau Online Services Directory is your chance to present your organisation’s products and services 24/7 to a very targeted audience.

Our Online Services Directory is:

An effective and cost effective means of promoting directly to your targeted market
Highly respected and widely trusted as a leading source of up-to-date food allergen news and information
An opportunity to promote specialist services and products to key decision makers

Download the information brochure containing our advertising policy, listing rates and additional details

ASCIA Infant Feeding and Maternal Diet Advice

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Recent media reports regarding an association between breastfeeding and parent-reported nut allergy may cause confusion amongst parents. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) would like to clarify that no changes to infant feeding or maternal diet should be made based on these reports.

ASCIA Infant Feeding Advice remains as follows:

Breastfeeding is recommended for at least 6 months for many reasons and is encouraged for as long as the mother and infant wish to continue.
Excluding allergenic foods from the maternal diet is not recommended as there is no evidence that this prevents allergies.
Introducing complementary solid foods from around 4-6 months, whilst still breastfeeding, is supported by current evidence published in peer reviewed journals affiliated with professional paediatric and allergy/immunology medical organisations. Giving one new food at a time is advised and if a food is tolerated, continue to give this as a part of a varied diet. If there is any reaction to any food, you should seek medical advice and that food should be avoided until your child is reviewed by a medical practitioner with experience in food allergy.

Read full article

VITAL 2.0 (May 2012)

Administrator (Ray Murphy) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

The Allergen Bureau is pleased to release VITAL 2.0.

VITAL 2.0 includes a new VITAL Guide and new VITAL calculator, as well as other support information to help you understand, implement and manage VITAL in your business.

VITAL 2.0 has been developed through broad industry engagement and industry support. The Allergen Bureau encourage you to continue to provide feedback and discussion points so that VITAL continues to deliver industry benefits.

To enhance the release of VITAL 2.0 we recently completed a project focused on alignment of training material to support an increase in Allergen Bureau endorsed VITAL training providers and an increase in the availability of VITAL training workshops. The alignment of VITAL training material ensures consistency of message about VITAL which will help to drive consistent training delivery as well as consistent application across the industry.

PIF 5.0 and VITAL 2.0 Industry Workshops This April

Allergen Bureau — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 02:30:00 +0000

The Allergen Bureau and the Australian Food and Grocery Council are running industry workshops for the latest PIF 5.0 and VITAL 2.0 in Brisbane and Newcastle in April 2012.

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.