People living with food allergies may soon benefit from clearer and more consistent global precautionary allergen warnings, following the adoption of new international guidance by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in July 2026.
The new guidance aims to improve the use of precautionary allergen labelling (PAL), including statements such as ‘may contain’, by ensuring these warnings are based on scientific risk assessment rather than being applied as a broad precaution. The move represents a significant step forward in helping consumers make informed and confident food choices.
Currently, the use of ‘may contain’ statements varies widely across countries and is often unregulated. This inconsistency can create confusion for consumers with food allergies. As a result, many people avoid products that may be safe to consume, while others may choose to disregard warnings, potentially putting their health at risk.
Australia played a key role in co-leading the development of the new Codex guidance. Under the new framework, precautionary statements should only be used when the risk of unintended allergen presence has been carefully assessed and cannot be adequately controlled through allergen management practices.
The guidance aligns closely with the principles of the Allergen Bureau’s VITAL (Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling) Program, which has long promoted a science-based approach to allergen risk assessment and precautionary labelling. Both initiatives support the use of allergen warnings only where there is a genuine and assessed risk to consumers.
The adoption of this guidance marks an important milestone in international food safety and allergen management, helping to improve consumer trust and support better decision-making for individuals managing food allergies.
Further information
Click here to read the FAO announcement on the new Codex guidance.
Click here to learn more about the Allergen Bureau VITAL Program.