A new allergen risk assessment template and accompanying guidance has been launched by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD).
The UK-based charitable organisation said its significant initiative is set to bring greater consistency in allergen procedures across the food supply chain and support improved food safety for allergy sufferers nationwide.
With food allergies and intolerances rising across all UK demographics, the need for a consistent and effective approach to allergen management has never been greater, it noted. The new template will help to eliminate confusion caused by inconsistent labelling and ultimately support a safer shopping experience for consumers.
The assessment template is the result of extensive collaboration through IGD’s Technical Leaders Forum and Network, which saw senior stakeholders across the food and consumer goods industry congregate to discuss common technical issues and strategic opportunities. These include from the Big Four supermarket retailers – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons – and bakery chain Greggs as well as manufacturers such as Bakkavor and Greencore (who have agreed a deal to form a £4bn food-to-go company), Premier Foods, and Just Love.
“Together with the IGD, we are bringing retailers and food manufacturers together to create a consumer first approach to allergen management through a cross-industry framework,” commented Ross Dennison, technical director at Bakkavor and Technical Leaders Forum co-chair.
IGD was able to facilitate open dialogue in its role as an impartial industry convenor to help coordinate the development of the template.
“The launch of this allergen risk assessment template demonstrates how industry collaboration can deliver positive change,” said Kate Reynolds, senior manager, resilience programme at IGD. “We understand that adapting to new procedures will involve some policy updates and staff retraining, but we see the template as a positive development, designed to streamline risk assessment, empowering teams to deliver safer food for all.”
Businesses can download the template and guidance for free via the IGD website here. The charity will be hosting a free webinar on 9 September to explore the new approach.
Whilst this latest solution is targeted mainly at the UK retail sector, foodservice operators have also been given access to guidance on allergen safety. Back in March, the Food Standards Agency issued best practice industry guidance on providing effective allergen information to out-of-home consumers with food hypersensitivities.
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