02.05.2022

FAO/WHO expert group supplements the recently recommended allergen-specific reference doses based on the ED05 for milk and sesame

As we reported last year, an FAO/WHO expert group on "Risk Assessment of Food Allergens" initiated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission published recommendations for allergen-specific thresholds (protein-based) for the labelling of unintentional allergen entries based on the ED05 (ED = eliciting dose).

The reference doses for milk and sesame were initially postponed due to pending evaluations of new data. In the recently published summary report of the FAO/WHO expert group, the threshold values for the allergens milk and sesame were supplemented.

In the following, the threshold values for the labelling of unintentional allergen inputs (PAL) with the updated values in mg protein are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Protein-based reference doses based on the ED05

Allergenic food Reference dose (mg protein of the allergenic food)
Walnut (and pecan*)  1.0
 Cashew nut (and pecan*) 1.0
 Almond** 1.0
 Peanut 2.0
 Egg 2.0
Hazelnut 3.0
Wheat 5.0
 Fish 5.0
Shrimp 200
 Milk 2.0
Sesame 2.0

* reference to the (not yet available) full report
** preliminary

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Source:
https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/food-safety/jemra/2nd-allergen-summary-report-milk-and-sesame-apr2022.pdf?sfvrsn=35130ec2_7