European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation assigns for the first time quality seal for allergy-friendly foods

Award for allergy-friendly foods

European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation assigns quality seal

The European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF) from the Department of Dermatology and Allergy at the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin has now awarded the "Quality Seal for Allergy-Friendly Products and Services" to Germany's biggest ham producer. For the first time in Germany the quality seal has been assigned to a food manufacturer. The seal stands for proven quality standards in the food area, exceeding even legal requirements for allergenic food ingredients.

"The quality seal does not only check the legally required labelling of ingredients, but also the additional declaration of unexpected allergen traces and other frequent allergens, if they were used in the recipe", explains Professor Torsten Zuberbier, head of ECARF. We are very glad that we can now award the quality seal also to the food sector and to help allergics having a better life with allergies with these products", added Zuberbier.

As from 25 November 2005 a new EU directive for food labelling into force. The regulations require food manufactures to provide a detailed list of ingredients for their products. The list, however, includes only 12 potentially allergenic ingredients, specific information on possible hidden food allergens remain unconsidered. Yet, these hidden allergens may cause major problems for allergic patients. Severely affected allergics should consult an allergologist and dietitian to find out how to avoid hidden allergens, which may occur e.g. by cross-contamination during the manufacturing process, and to determine their individual threshold level by provocation tests.

The website www.allergy-foundation.info provides further information about the ECARF Quality Seal for Allergy-Friendly Products and Services and about businesses and products that have been already certified.

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