The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) held a public meeting, “Preventing Undeclared Allergens: A Strategic Approach to Reducing Recalls,” on March 16 because allergen recalls make up a majority of recalls. This meeting discussed polices on allergen control and best practices for prevention and controlling allergen cross-contact, including during sanitation and labeling.
Based on my representing the food industry and information from colleagues, I have compiled a list of items to consider regarding control of allergens during production. Had some of these points been considered, many allergen recalls could have been prevented.