FSA allergy study results revealed
New research by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) reveals how people with nut allergies use food labels when choosing what food to buy and eat, and will be used to help produce clearer allergy information for consumers.
The study – carried out by the University of Surrey – involved participants being accompanied during a routine food shop and interviewed at length to find out what they were thinking when they chose each product.
The research found that when people were making choices about buying or eating a particular food, the brand was important because participants trusted certain food companies more than others. Also, the allergy advice box was used by many as a reliable source of information – often instead of the ingredients list.
According to the study, most participants did not know that this information was voluntary and some assumed that the absence of an allergy advice box meant the product did not contain any of the main food allergens and was safe for them to eat.
“This research shows the importance of clear allergy labelling on food products,” says Sue Hattersley, head of food allergy at the FSA. “Shopping for food can prove to be very difficult and time-consuming for people with food allergies and we urge food manufacturers and businesses to follow our best practice guidance when providing allergy information. This can make simple everyday tasks such as food shopping or eating out a safer, less stressful and more pleasurable experience for people with food allergies.”
