Food labelling and packaging
Precautionary allergen labelling (PAL)
If you’ve identified a risk of potential allergen cross-contamination which cannot be controlled, you should use precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) to warn consumers.
Allergen cross-contamination is when traces of allergens get into products accidentally. If this happens, you can use wording such as “may contain milk” or “not suitable for people with a nut allergy”.
You should not use general statements such as “may contain allergens”.
If you receive any precautionary allergen information from ingredient suppliers, you should pass this on to the final consumers, unless your risk assessment supersedes that information.
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
When you should not use PAL
You should not use PAL:
- in combination with a free-from statement for the same allergen - for example, if you’re telling consumers that a product is free-from milk, you cannot also say it may contain milk
- as a substitute for food hygiene and safety practices
If you use PAL when no genuine risk to the consumer has been identified, you could be misleading consumers and therefore breaking food law.
How to use PAL
Precautionary allergen information does not need to be on the food label. It can be communicated in other ways, such as verbal warnings by staff or signs displayed at the food premises.
You should regularly review your PALs, particularly when suppliers or processes change.
Read more detailed guidance on allergen labelling requirements and legislation.
Get help
Contact the hypersensitivity team at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) if you need advice about PAL.
FSA hypersensitivity team
hypersensitivitypolicy@food.gov.uk