FOOD SAFETY

Norwegian Food Safety Authority will conduct a national audit project on allergen labeling. The purpose of the project is ensuring consumers’ confidence relying on the label and on this basis to make safe food choices. Proper labeling of allergenic ingredients is crucial for allergy sufferers’ health.

The FSA will concentrate on the following:

* Proper labeling of allergenic ingredients, including product reviews.
* Risk assessment conducted with a possible use of a warning label such as "may contain traces of".
* Procedures for dealing with possible sources of contamination with allergens, including procedures and cleanliness of premises and equipment.
* Procedures to pre-evaluate their suppliers, and products they want to import, with respect to allergens.
* Compliance with the organization's own procedures.

The audit will be carried out at all stages of production, as well as it will include imported foodstuffs. It is important for preventing errors - both in the labeling of allergenic ingredients and the possible contamination with allergens.


Food Safety Authority will audit the following product categories:

* Prepared and semi-finished products (bag of soup, sauce bases, casseroles, etc.).
* Breakfast cereals
* Baking Mix (bread, pancakes / waffles, cakes)
* Cakes, biscuits and fried bread
* Sweets and snacks
* Desserts (ice cream, puddings, jellies, etc.)

The project will be concluded in September of 2011. Report with results of the project is expected to be completed during January 2012.


Food Safety Team