How to Label Food Allergen Information for the Malaysian Market

Labeling food allergen information is crucial in ensuring consumer safety, and it varies significantly from country to country. In Malaysia, the labeling of allergens is mandatory, guided by the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.

1. Mandatory labeling items

Regulation 11(1) of Food Regulations 1985 mandates the mandatory labeling of ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity (hereinafter allergens):

“Every package containing food for sale shall, unless otherwise provided in these Regulations, bear on it a label containing the following particulars, namely … (ea) where the food contains ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity, the ingredients shall be declared on the label …”.

As per a Guideline issued by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH), “hypersensitivity” refers to uncomfortable conditions such as itching, swelling, vomiting, asthma, chest pain and fainting, which can sometimes lead to death, caused by the body's immune system response.

The specific allergens that must be declared on food labels include:

1. Cereal containing gluten including wheat, rye, barley and oat;

2. Nut and nut product including peanut and soybean;

3. Fish and fish product*;

4. Milk and milk product (including lactose); and

5. Egg and egg product.

Notes: Fish includes any marine, brackish water or freshwater fish, crustacean, mollusc and other aquatic life that is edible by human being. It also includes fish roe.

2. Labeling methods

The method of allergen labelling can be divided into the following situations based on different ingredient types.

• Principle food ingredients

All allergens must be shown in the list of food ingredients using terminology depicting the source as shown below.

When labeling such ingredients, enterprises can label by referencing the following examples:

• Compound ingredients

For those included in the compound ingredients, enterprises must state the presence of such allergen ingredients in the formula.

• Food additives and added nutrients

The source of food additives and added nutrients known to cause hypersensitivity must be stated, including any carried-over additives. The labelling examples are given below.

• Contamination by other food particles

If there is a possibility of contamination by allergens from other food particles, a statement for such situation should be labelled.

3. Special Labeling for GMO Products

Regulation 11(6) of the Food Regulations 1985 requires that

“The origin of food and food ingredients obtained through modern biotechnology shall be stated as follows: “gene derived from (origin)”.

As per the MOH, where foods contain, consist of or are produced from genetically modified organism (GMO), if the gene is derived from animal or substance that may cause hypersensitivity, relevant information shall be labelled without exemption.

The labelling method for genetically modified food (GMF), whose gene is derived from substance that may cause hypersensitivity should follow Regulation 11(6) and (7) by referencing the following examples.

• Single ingredient product

• Multi ingredient product
  

For more detailed labeling requirements for various food products in Malaysia, please refer to ChemLinked’s FoodCheck tool.