If you're in the Australian food manufacturing industry, you're no stranger to acronyms.
But of all of them, PEAL is one of the most important for consumer safety and your business's compliance. PEAL, or Plain English Allergen Labelling, is the standard mandated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to make allergen information on labels simple, clear, and consistent.
It was introduced to eliminate the guesswork for consumers—some of whom have life-threatening allergies.
For manufacturers, this change represents a significant step up in labelling diligence.
Relying on old templates or manual processes is no longer a safe bet. Here's exactly what PEAL requires and how you can ensure you get it right, every single time.
What is Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL)?
At its core, PEAL is a set of rules for how prescribed allergens must be declared on food labels. The goal is to use simple, common terms that are easy to recognise, rather than broad or scientific names.
Think of it as translating complex information into everyday language. For consumers managing allergies, this clarity is not just a convenience; it's a critical safety feature. For your business, it's a non-negotiable part of your labelling requirements under the Food Standards Code.
The Core Requirements: PEAL in Practice
Complying with PEAL involves three key formatting and content requirements on your product label.
1. Use of Specific, Required Names
Generic terms are no longer sufficient. You must use the specific name of the allergen as prescribed by FSANZ.
- ❌ Incorrect: "Contains Nuts"
- ✅ Correct: "Contains Almond"
- ❌ Incorrect: "Made with cereal"
- ✅ Correct: "Made with Wheat"
2. Bolded Text in the Ingredient List
Every time a prescribed allergen appears in your ingredient list, its required name must be made bold. This helps it stand out visually.
Example: Ingredients: Flour (Wheat), Sugar, Egg, Vegetable Oil (Soy), Thickener (contains Wheat).
3. A Distinct "Contains" Summary Statement
You must include a separate summary statement located near the ingredient list that clearly declares all allergens present. This statement must begin with the word "Contains."
Example: Contains Wheat, Egg, Soy.
This summary statement must be consistent with the allergens bolded in the ingredient list. A mismatch between these two elements is a common reason for non-compliance.
Where Businesses Go Wrong with PEAL
The shift to PEAL has created common pitfalls for businesses relying on outdated, manual processes:
- Inconsistency: An allergen is bolded in the ingredient list but is missed in the final "Contains" statement.
- Generic Terms: Using broad terms like "tree nuts" in the summary statement instead of the specific nut (e.g., Cashew, Walnut).
- Manual Errors: A team member manually typing the label introduces the risk of typos or forgetting to bold an ingredient.
- Outdated Supplier Information: A supplier changes an ingredient's sub-components, introducing a new allergen (like a soy-based emulsifier), which is missed in the label update.
The Foolproof Way to Comply with PEAL
Trying to manage PEAL requirements on a spreadsheet is a high-risk gamble. The process of manually cross-checking every ingredient in every recipe against the FSANZ standards is inefficient and ripe for human error.
Automation is the only way to ensure 100% accuracy and consistency.
Batchbase was built to handle this complexity for you. Our platform is your single source of truth for compliance, turning a difficult manual task into an effortless, automated output.
- Intelligent Allergen Recognition: Batchbase's ingredient database is coded with the FSANZ allergen requirements. It automatically identifies every PEAL allergen in your recipes.
- Automated Label Generation: With one click, Batchbase generates a perfectly formatted ingredient list with the correct allergens bolded, and it creates the corresponding "Contains" statement, guaranteeing they match perfectly.
PEAL is a positive step forward for food safety in Australia. With the right tools, complying with it doesn't have to be a source of stress for your business. It can be a simple, automated part of your process that reinforces the trust customers have in your brand.
Generate a PEAL-Compliant Label in Seconds.
Stop manually checking, bolding, and typing. Let Batchbase do the work for you and ensure every label is perfect, every time.
Resources
You can find more information at FSANZ by clicking here.