Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has reminded all food businesses, including importers, that mandatory allergen labelling requirements have to be met.

The warning follows numerous coconut product recalls due to to a lack of allergen labelling concerning milk and milk derivatives as a component in many coconut products/

FSANZ CEO, Steve McCutcheon said he wants businesses to remember that allergens can be deadly which is why there is  mandatory labelling requirements for nine allergens.

“I remind any consumers who are allergic to milk or milk products to be mindful of recent recalls involving imported coconut products. Products have ranged from powders to coconut drinks and have been sold at smaller Asian retailers as well as larger outlets, chemists and online,” said McCutcheon.

“State and territory enforcement agencies and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (for imported food) have been investigating similar products,” McCutcheon continued.

“FSANZ will update its recalls web page with any further associated recalls and will alert consumers through its social media sites. Anyone who has an affected product can return it to the place of purchase for a refund,” McCutcheon said.

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