Allergens are a major cause of food recalls in the United States and can be devastating to a company. However, there are several things you can do to minimize the chance of your products being involved in an allergen recall.
Your employees should know what allergens are and why it is critical to properly control them. Food allergens are naturally occurring proteins in food that cause an abnormal immune response. An adverse reaction to an allergen is referred to as a food allergy. For some people the allergic reaction can be very severe and very serious. The eight most common food allergens are; milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, wheat, soy and fish. An allergenic reaction to an allergen can cause; swelling of the tongue, mouth or face, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, hives or an itchy rash. In extreme cases the reaction can be fatal.