Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) is in, but foods with old labels can be legally sold until 25 February 2026.

In 2021, Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) was introduced by the Food Standards Code to make allergen information on food labels easier to find. Food companies were given time to transition to the new labelling style, and all food packaged after 25 February 2024 must use PEAL. Food that was packaged before this date using the old labelling format can still be sold until 25 February 2026, so there will be two labelling styles for two more years.

Our updated videos show what information must be shown on food labels and how to understand allergen information on old food labels and new PEAL labels.

The National Allergy Council has released two new video animations to help people with food allergies, health professionals and food service providers understand more about precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) statements on food products.

PAL statements include statements such as ‘may contain traces of….’ or ‘made on equipment that also processes…’ and are intended to warn people with food allergies about the risk of cross contamination with an allergen. However, PAL statements are not regulated by the Food Standards Code and are often placed (or not placed) on products without the manufacturer applying a risk assessment as to whether an allergen warning is needed or not.

It is important for people to understand what PAL statements mean when making food choices. Our new animations cover what PAL statements are, and how to choose products with or without PAL statements.