New requirements to make it easier for people to find information about common allergies on food labels come into effect today, Sunday February 25.

New Zealand Food Safety  deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle says the changes are good news for people with food allergies.

“For the up to eight per cent of New Zealanders who have food allergies the consequences of eating the wrong food can be serious, from swelling, hives and vomiting to anaphylaxis.

“People lead busy lives so food labelling needs to be as simple, clear and easy to find as possible to be effective.

“Food Safety Australia New Zealand, with input from NZFS, got valuable feedback from people affected by food allergies to help make sure the changes were effective and practical,” says Vincent.

All food packaged and labelled after Sunday, February 25, must declare allergens or provide statements about the contents where appropriate.

The requirements will vary depending on how the food is packaged, labelled and sold and risk that needs to be identified.

Under the changes, potentially life-threatening common allergens must be listed in bold in the ingredients list and summarised in a ‘contains’ statement on the label.

Any food packaged and labelled before February 25, 2024, under the previous allergen labelling rules can continue to be sold until February 25, 2026.

Foods at cafes or restaurants including takeaways are not required to be labelled but must be displayed with the food such as listed on the menu, or provided to the customer on request.

Find out more labelling on our website: Allergen declarations, warnings, and advisory statements on food labels | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz)

If you have questions about allergen labelling, email info@mpi.govt.nz