Food Allergens

Food Recalls / Allergy Alerts

The CFIA enforces Canada's labelling laws and works with associations, distributors, food manufacturers and importers to ensure complete and appropriate labelling of all foods. The CFIA recommends that food companies establish effective allergen controls to minimize the potential for allergic reactions. When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential serious hazard associated with a food, such as undeclared allergens, the CFIA investigates and takes all appropriate action to protect consumers, which may include a recall of the food product.

• Consultation on Precautionary Labelling of Food Allergens

Consumers - Fact Sheets

• Priority Food Allergens
  • Be Food Allergy Aware When Packing School Lunches
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Peanuts
  • Seafood (Fish, Crustaceans and Shellfish)
  • Sesame Seeds
  • Soy
  • Sulphites
  • Tree Nuts
  • Wheat
• Labelling of Foods Causing Allergies and Sensitivities
• Oral Allergy Syndrome
• Scombroid Poisoning
• Undeclared Allergens in Chocolate

Consumers - Reference Material

• Proposed New Labelling Requirements to Protect Health of Canadians
• Food Allergen Program - Health Canada
• Food Recalls / Allergy Alerts
• Severe Allergic Reactions - Health Canada

Industry - Communiqués

• Precautionary Labelling for Allergens in Pre-packaged Foods (2007-09-25)
• Declaration of Food Allergens - Pre-Packaged Foods (2007-03-23)

Industry - Reference Material

• Questions and Answers Regarding the Labelling of Food Allergens and the use of Precautionary Statements
• Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising - List of ingredients
  • Mandatory Common Names of Ingredients and Components
  • Class Names for Ingredients
  • Ingredients Exempt from Component Declaration
  • Component Declarations
• A Tool for Managing Allergen Risk in Food Products
• List of Canadian Acceptable Common Names for Fish and Seafood