The market share of foods carrying labels suggesting absence of animal ingredients has significantly increased in recent years. The purpose of this study was to document the purchasing behaviour of egg- or milk-allergic consumers vis-à-vis food marketed as “vegan” and “plant-based”, and to evaluate the associated allergenic risk. A survey was conducted among egg- and milk-allergic consumers and revealed that 86% (margin of error 5.4%; confidence level 95%) would buy “vegan” products, indicating this label may be perceived as a substitute for “free from milk and eggs”. To assess the risk posed by these products, 87 prepackaged foods with “vegan” and/or “plant-based” claims purchased in Quebec were tested for milk proteins, and 64 for egg proteins. Overall, 5.7% and 0% occurrence of milk and egg proteins, respectively, were observed, suggesting that the analysed prepackaged foods carrying “vegan” and/or “plant-based” labels pose little risk to egg- or milk-allergic consumers. However, this is likely due to allergen management practices applied by the Canadian manufacturers of the products tested, and should not be attributed to the use of “vegan” or similar labels. Enhanced regulatory requirements for the use of these labels, and an education campaign on their meaning with respect to allergy-related risks, are necessary to better inform and protect egg- and milk-allergic consumers.

Canadian regulations require food business operators (FBOs) to implement preventive controls to manage allergens and ensure their accurate declaration. However, the use of precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) is voluntary and competent authorities provide limited guidance on its use. The objective of this study was to present an overview of Canadian FBOs' current allergen management practices, including the mechanisms used to evaluate the need for PAL in finished products, and to investigate potential areas for improvement. Canadian FBOs were invited to answer an online survey of 48 questions covering allergen management practices and perceptions. Eighty-four full survey responses (margin of error of 9% at a 90% confidence level) were obtained. Differences in responses to multiple choice questions per company size were determined using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyse responses to rating or forced ranking questions. Survey respondents' allergen management practices were based on a combination of recognized best practices, third-party quality systems' standards, and regulatory requirements. Concerning practices related to the criteria used to reach PAL decisions were noted, which could be addressed with increased awareness and use of risk-based approaches and a clearer regulatory policy. Analytical testing applicability and interpretation, access to information on unintentional allergen presence in raw materials, and clarity on the expectations related to the current regulatory framework on food allergens and its enforcement, were identified as challenges faced by Canadian FBOs. The results of this survey and its analysis could be used by regulators – to inform potential policy changes, by FBOs – to map industry practices, and by allergic consumers – to better understand how manufacturers manage allergens in their operations.

Regulations in many countries worldwide prescribe that peanut must be listed on food labels as a cause of food allergies. Re-evaluated voluntary incidental trace allergen labelling (VITAL) values for peanut revealed the eliciting dose (ED01) value—at which 99% of all peanut-allergic individuals will not react—is 0.2 mg peanut protein. Validation of a sandwich ELISA based on monoclonal antibodies to detect peanut proteins. Non-processed and processed samples are extracted by an easy procedure at 60°C within 10 min. The measurement range is between 0.75 and 6 mg/kg peanut using a national institute of standards and technology (NIST) reference material as calibrator. The system shows no cross-reactivity against 91 different food commodities. The LOD was 0.15 mg/kg for food matrixes such as cookies, milk chocolate, ice cream, trail mix, puffed rice cereal, and granola bar. LOQ was verified at a level of 0.75 mg/kg. Recovery studies with incurred milk chocolate and ice cream revealed consistent recoveries between 67 and 85%. Mean recoveries for incurred cookies depend on the baking temperature and time and ranged from 60 to 109%. Repeatability was between 5.2 and 12.3%, whereas relative intermediate precision was between 6.4 and 13.0%. The results for incurred cookies and milk chocolate in the independent laboratory study showed mean recoveries between 99 and 104% with RSDs between 3.56 and 19.5% under repeatability conditions. The results from the in-house validation study and the independent lab confirmed that the method is accurate and in accordance with requirements laid down in Standard Method Performance Requirement 2017.020. RIDASCREEN^® Peanut quantifies proteins from peanut in a wide range of food categories.

This study quantitatively assessed AFM₁ exposure through consumption of cows' milk in Lebanese adolescents and adults. Lebanon-specific, non-aggregated data on (i) milk intake and body weight - from an existing survey for adults and from a new survey for adolescents, and (ii) AFM₁ occurrence in milk, were fitted to distributions and incorporated into a probabilistic model. Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for milk consumers was estimated considering the incidence of hepatitis B virus in Lebanon and characterized using the margin of exposure (MOE). All subgroups' mean risk estimates, expressed as additional HCC cases per 100 000 population per year, were significantly different (p < 0.05), and ranged from 2.2x10^-4 for adult males to 4.9x10^-4 for adolescent males. This variation is attributed to significant differences in body weight and milk intake. MOE identified adolescent males and females as at-risk populations (mean 9628 and 8108, respectively). For adults, levels of concern were only reached with extreme consumption and/or contamination events. Considering that exposure from other sources (e.g., dairy) is cumulative, control of AFM₁ in milk in Lebanon should be a risk management priority to ensure protection of younger populations.