Expert meeting on Risk Assessment of Food Allergens happening at FAO

Did you know that food allergens are among the leading causes of food-related health risks, particularly for individuals with severe allergic reactions? These allergens, which include ingredients like nuts, soy, and mustard, can trigger life-threatening responses even in trace amounts, posing serious challenges for food safety and global trade.

To address these concerns, FAO and WHO are leading an expert consultation this week, from the 16th to the 20th of June 2025 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This international meeting will focus on developing scientific guidance for qualitative risk assessment of food allergens, building on a series of previous expert reviews conducted since 2020.

The goal of this consultation is to support food safety by creating practical, science-based guidance that helps governments and food business operators identify, assess, and manage risks related to food allergens. Experts will evaluate the most recent literature, regulatory guidelines, and industry practices to ensure the new framework is both robust and accessible.

The objectives of the meeting include:

• Reviewing publicly available scientific and regulatory guidance for qualitative and quantitative allergen risk assessments;
• Developing practical strategies and frameworks for when and how qualitative assessments can be applied;
• Identifying methods for implementing effective control and mitigation measures to reduce allergen risks in foods;
• Promoting harmonization of food allergen policies to facilitate international trade.

This effort is part of an ongoing FAO/WHO initiative responding to Codex Alimentarius’ request for scientific advice, and it follows earlier expert reports that covered allergen threshold levels, precautionary labelling, and exemptions (read more about it here). The upcoming consultation aims to strike a balance between ensuring food safety and reducing unnecessary burdens on small food businesses.

By providing clear guidance on qualitative allergen risk assessment, FAO and WHO hope to advance safer food systems and support more inclusive, globally harmonized trade practices.

Read more about the meeting here.