{"id":112104,"date":"2024-12-29T08:03:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-29T07:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mallorcaglobalmag.es\/?p=112104"},"modified":"2024-12-23T09:34:51","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T08:34:51","slug":"food-quality-against-abuse-precautionary-labels-allergies-andreu-palou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mallorcaglobalmag.es\/en\/food-quality-against-abuse-precautionary-labels-allergies-andreu-palou\/","title":{"rendered":"Food quality against the abuse of precautionary labels of allergies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-112278 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/mallorcaglobalmag.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ANDREU-PALOU-INTERIOR-ARTICULO.jpg\" alt=\"Andreu Palou\" width=\"396\" height=\"192\" \/>A <strong>food allergy<\/strong> occurs when the <strong>immune system reacts abnormally to certain foods<\/strong> by misidentifying one or more of their components as harmful. In many cases, the reaction is mild, but in others, it can be severe or even trigger a life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Its incidence <strong>has increased alarmingly over the last 20 years for reasons as yet unknown<\/strong>, although hypothetically it could be due to environmental changes, increased consumption of new and <strong>ultra-processed foods,<\/strong> excessive cleanliness, or factors that impoverish the <strong>diversity of our intestinal microbiota.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Food labels are a fundamental tool<\/strong> for conveying essential information to consumers. For this reason, the<strong> European Union<\/strong> has been applying very <strong>strict legislation<\/strong> to food manufacturers requiring that labelling easily identifies the <strong>14 allergens<\/strong> that are now considered a <strong>priority<\/strong>: <strong>nuts<\/strong> (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashew nuts), <strong>peanuts<\/strong>,<strong> celery, cereals containing gluten<\/strong> (such as wheat, rye, barley, and oats), <strong>milk and dairy products, eggs, soya, fish, crustaceans<\/strong> (such as shrimps, crabs, and lobsters), molluscs (such as mussels, oysters, and clams), <strong>lupins, sesame, mustard, and sulphites.<\/strong> Clearly, this regulation has been a major step forward in protecting consumers&#8217; health. But challenges remain.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The obligation to inform about allergens extends to any operator offering food<\/strong>, whether packaged or not, including restaurants, cafeterias, caterers, or, in general, any establishment offering food. But <strong>the method of information is not as strict as that required of the manufacturer<\/strong>, as it is left too much in the hands of the operator, who can choose between several options, such as including icons or other indications on <strong>the menu card<\/strong> (recommended), but also <strong>leaflets<\/strong>, <strong>posters<\/strong>, or even oral information (supported by less accessible information), which is why it is an aspect of the legislation that could be improved.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-112101 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/mallorcaglobalmag.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mediterranean-food-on-the-table-2023-11-27-04-52-33-utc.webp\" alt=\"Alimentos \" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, the voluntary nature of <strong>&#8220;precautionary allergen labelling&#8221;<\/strong> (<strong>PAL<\/strong>), which is often used, for example, when several foods, some <strong>containing allergens,<\/strong> are produced on the same premises, or utensils are shared when preparing different foods, is abused. Warnings such as &#8220;<strong>may contain traces of x&#8221; are intended to protect consumers with allergies,<\/strong> but their abusive application reduces their usefulness while their inconsistency increases the risk that they will be ignored. In addition, <strong>abuse of PALs unfairly limits consumer choice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The PAL should be indicative of lower food quality,<\/strong> as it is voluntary, its use is confusing, and its absence does not exclude cross-contamination with allergens. The reality is that PAL is abused as an alibi to &#8220;cover one&#8217;s back&#8221; in order to reduce costs, instead of applying more costly but higher-quality alternatives,<strong> such as using different facilities or utensils when dealing with allergens<\/strong>. To regain its full protective meaning, the absence of PAL should guarantee the exclusion of cross-contamination, fully accredited and identified by an allergen quality label.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mallorcaglobalmag.es\/en\/the-magazine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-111314 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/mallorcaglobalmag.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/OPINION-CON-PORTADA_ENG.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"141\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts abnormally <a href=\"https:\/\/mallorcaglobalmag.es\/en\/food-quality-against-abuse-precautionary-labels-allergies-andreu-palou\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":112275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1615,1518,1512,1522],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-andreu-palou-en","category-health","category-opinion-en","category-science-and-technology"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - 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