Food Allergen Awareness Course (EU): Allergen labelling on prepacked food

1. Question 1 of 16

   On prepacked food with an ingredients list, where must allergens be shown?

   • AIn the ingredients list, emphasised so they stand out
   • BOnly on the company's website
   • COnly in a separate box on the front of the pack, away from the list
   • DOnly in a "may contain" statement
   Show answer

   Answer: A. In the ingredients list, emphasised so they stand out

   Article 21 requires allergens to be named in the ingredients list and emphasised.

2. Question 2 of 16

   How can allergens be emphasised in an ingredients list?

   • ABy adding the word ALLERGEN in front
   • BFor example by font, style or background colour
   • CBy listing them last, after the other ingredients
   • DOnly by printing them in red ink
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   Answer: B. For example by font, style or background colour

   Article 21 says the allergen name must be emphasised through a typeset that clearly distinguishes it, for example by font, style or background colour.

3. Question 3 of 16

   An ingredients list includes "milk powder". Which part must be emphasised?

   • AThe word "powder"
   • BThe whole list
   • CThe word "milk"
   • DNothing, because it is a powder
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   Answer: C. The word "milk"

   Only the part of the ingredient name that matches the Annex II allergen needs to be emphasised.

4. Question 4 of 16

   A bottle of beer (5% alcohol) has no ingredients list, but it is made with barley. How is the allergen shown?

   • AOnly on the price list or shelf label in the shop
   • BWith the word "contains" and the allergen, e.g. "contains barley"
   • CWith a "may contain barley" warning on the back label
   • DIt does not need to be shown, because beer has no ingredients list
   Show answer

   Answer: B. With the word "contains" and the allergen, e.g. "contains barley"

   Drinks with more than 1.2% alcohol do not need an ingredients list, but allergens must still be shown, using the word "contains" followed by the allergen's name.

5. Question 5 of 16

   A product is sold as "cream" and has no ingredients list. Does it need a separate milk statement?

   • AYes, it must say "contains milk" in capitals
   • BNo, because its name clearly refers to milk
   • CYes, it must carry a "may contain milk" warning
   • DOnly if it is sold outside the EU
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   Answer: B. No, because its name clearly refers to milk

   No allergen statement is needed where the name of the food clearly refers to the allergen, such as cheese or cream for milk.

6. Question 6 of 16

   Gluten is added to a bread as a separate ingredient. How should it be listed?

   • AAs "gluten" with nothing else, since gluten is the allergen
   • BAs "cereal protein", so the cereal does not need naming
   • CIt does not need to be listed, because it is a protein
   • DAs "gluten" with its cereal named, e.g. "gluten (wheat)"
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   Answer: D. As "gluten" with its cereal named, e.g. "gluten (wheat)"

   The cereal must be named; gluten added as such must show its origin, for example "gluten (wheat)".

7. Question 7 of 16

   What is the minimum x-height of the font for mandatory information on most food packs?

   • A1.2 mm
   • B0.5 mm
   • C0.9 mm
   • D2 mm
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 1.2 mm

   Article 13 sets a minimum x-height of 1.2 mm. Packs whose largest surface is under 80 cm² may use 0.9 mm.

8. Question 8 of 16

   A biscuit lists "chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, soya lecithin)". Which words must be emphasised?

   • A"chocolate" and "sugar"
   • BNone, because chocolate is a compound ingredient
   • C"milk" and "soya"
   • DOnly "chocolate"
   Show answer

   Answer: C. "milk" and "soya"

   Allergens inside a compound ingredient must be emphasised too. Milk and soya are both on the list; soya lecithin is not an exception.

9. Question 9 of 16

   A cheese has an ingredients list. What does the Commission's guidance say about milk?

   • AMilk needs no emphasis, because the name already says cheese
   • BMilk must still be emphasised in the list
   • CMilk must be shown only on the back of the pack
   • DMilk must be shown only in a separate "contains" box
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Milk must still be emphasised in the list

   The name exception applies only to the separate statement. If there is an ingredients list, the allergen must still be emphasised in it.

10. Question 10 of 16

    A manufacturer wants to add a box saying "Allergy advice: contains milk, egg" under an emphasised list. What does the Commission's guidance say?

    • AAllergen information should not be repeated outside the ingredients list
    • BThe box is needed only when the product contains nuts
    • CThe box is required by EU law on every prepacked food sold anywhere in the EU
    • DThe box replaces the need to emphasise allergens in the list
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    Answer: A. Allergen information should not be repeated outside the ingredients list

    The Commission's guidance says it is not possible to voluntarily repeat allergen information outside the list of ingredients.

11. Question 11 of 16

    Which business is responsible for the food information on a prepacked product made in the EU?

    • AThe business under whose name the food is sold
    • BThe shop that puts the product on its shelves
    • CThe national food authority of the country of sale
    • DThe delivery company that takes it to the shops
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The business under whose name the food is sold

    Article 8 makes the operator under whose name the food is marketed responsible. If it is outside the EU, the importer is responsible.

12. Question 12 of 16

    Several additives in a cake come from wheat. How can the label make this clear?

    • ABy writing "gluten" once at the end
    • BIt only needs to mention wheat if wheat flour is the main ingredient of the cake
    • CBy printing a wheat picture on the front
    • DWith a clear note such as "From wheat" linked to those ingredients
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    Answer: D. With a clear note such as "From wheat" linked to those ingredients

    The label must make the source clear for each ingredient. The Commission's guidance says a linked note such as "From wheat" can be used instead of repeating it.

13. Question 13 of 16

    What is true about a precautionary "may contain nuts" statement?

    • AIt is a mandatory declaration that replaces the ingredients list
    • BIt is voluntary and should be based on a risk assessment
    • CIt is the legal way to declare nuts used as an ingredient
    • DIt allows a business to skip cleaning
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    Answer: B. It is voluntary and should be based on a risk assessment

    Precautionary labelling is about unintended presence. It should follow a risk assessment, never replace preventive measures, and is not an allergen declaration.

14. Question 14 of 16

    A pack's largest surface measures 9 cm by 8 cm. What minimum x-height may its mandatory information use?

    • A0.9 mm
    • B1.2 mm
    • C1.5 mm
    • D0.6 mm
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 0.9 mm

    The surface is 9 × 8 = 72 cm², which is less than 80 cm², so the minimum x-height is 0.9 mm instead of 1.2 mm.

15. Question 15 of 16

    A pack's largest surface measures 12 cm by 7 cm. What minimum x-height must its mandatory information use?

    • A0.6 mm
    • B1.2 mm
    • C2.0 mm
    • D0.9 mm
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 1.2 mm

    The surface is 12 × 7 = 84 cm², which is not less than 80 cm², so the normal minimum of 1.2 mm applies.

16. Question 16 of 16

    Which of these is prepacked food under EU rules?

    • AA pastry picked out of the counter by the customer
    • BA sandwich made and wrapped at the counter because the customer asked for it
    • CA sandwich made in a factory and delivered to shops already sealed
    • DA meal served on a plate in a restaurant
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A sandwich made in a factory and delivered to shops already sealed

    Food packed on the sales premises at the customer's request, and food served unpacked, are treated as non-prepacked food.

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