In this Edition:

• Label of the Month: Saucy Wench  

• Unlocking the Power of Plain English: How PEAL Legislation is Transforming Food Labels for the Better 

• Special Offer This Month: The ColorWorks CW-4010 Special Introductory Pricing 

• Employee of the Month: Meet Martijn 

• Product of the Month: The Primera AP Coder

• Webinar Invitation: Launch of the new BarTender Cloud Software

• 2023 Corporate Calendars

• Joke of the Month

Are you familiar with the PEAL legislation? If not, it's time to get caught up. This important piece of legislation is designed to protect consumers and ensure fair business practices. As a business owner, it's essential to understand and adhere to these regulations to avoid any legal issues. In this digital age, it's more important than ever to ensure that your business is transparent and honest. Failure to comply with the PEAL legislation can result in hefty fines and damage to your reputation.

Don't get caught out, so take the time to educate yourself on this crucial legislation and ensure that your business is operating within the law.  In this article, we'll break down the key aspects of PEAL legislation and provide practical tips to help you stay compliant. Let's get started! 

PEAL stands for Plain English Allergen Labeling, and it is a regulation that requires food manufacturers to provide clear and concise information about common allergens present in their products. In February 2021, the Food standards code changed the way food allergens must be listed on food labels, and food businesses have 3-years to transition to the new food labelling laws by February 2024. Given how long label stock can sometimes sit on the shelf, we would recommend that you check your labelling compliance now.

PEAL legislation is important because it ensures that people with food allergies have access to accurate information about the food they consume. For individuals with severe allergies, even a small amount of an allergen can be life-threatening. By providing clear information on the label, consumers can make informed decisions about what they eat and avoid any potential allergens. This legislation also protects businesses from legal actions taken by consumers who may have unknowingly ingested an allergen due to unclear labeling. 

Common PEAL Legislation Violations 

One of the most common violations of PEAL legislation is incorrect labeling or incomplete information about allergens present in the food product. This can happen due to a lack of understanding of the requirements or negligence on the part of the manufacturer or business owner. In some cases, businesses may intentionally mislabel a product to avoid listing an allergen, which can have severe consequences for consumers with allergies. 

Another common violation is the lack of clarity in the labeling. The PEAL legislation requires the use of plain English to describe the presence of allergens in a product. However, some businesses may use complex or ambiguous language, making it difficult for consumers to understand the presence of an allergen. 

Please note that you can no longer just state "Contains Nuts", instead you have to specify what variety of nuts ie. is it "Almond" or "Macadamia"?

The Food Standards Code also requires that added sulphites in concentrations of 10mg/kg or more must also be declared on food labels of packaged foods.

These allergens must be declared if they are included as:

• An ingredient
• Part of a compound ingredient (for example, if milk chocolate is present as an ingredient in a biscuit).
• A food additive
• A processing aid

How to Adhere to PEAL Legislation 

Adhering to PEAL legislation requires a thorough understanding of the requirements and a commitment to transparency and accuracy in labeling. Here are some tips to help businesses comply with PEAL legislation: 

• Identify the allergens present in your products 
  • The first step in complying with PEAL legislation is to identify the allergens present in your products. This requires a thorough understanding of the ingredients used in your products and the potential allergens that may be present. 
• Use plain English to describe the presence of allergens 
  • PEAL legislation requires the use of plain English to describe the presence of allergens in a product. This means avoiding complex or ambiguous language and using clear and concise descriptions. 
• Use clear and legible font 
  • The labeling of your products should be clear and legible. This includes the font size, which should be large enough to be easily read by consumers. The font should also be in a contrasting color to the background to ensure readability. Australian food standard code now requires you to list the following common food allergens and that they are clearly displayed with the specific ingredients in bold text.
• Include the name of the allergen 
  • The name of the allergen should be listed on the label to ensure that consumers can easily identify the presence of the allergen. 
• Update labeling regularly 
  • As ingredients and formulations change, it is important to update labeling regularly to ensure accuracy and compliance with PEAL legislation. 

PEAL legislation has been an important step towards improving transparency in the food industry, and it has paved the way for more regulations to ensure a safer and more informed food supply. Watch our informative video here: PEAL Labeling Laws Australia / NZ (labelpower.com.au)

The Primera AP-CODE, in combination with our Primera AP360 and AP362 Label Applicators, now allows our customers to apply their labels and simultaneously print Use By & Best Before dates, lot/batch codes, and much more directly onto their containers & labels. 

Do you find you have to print your Use By & Best Before dates, lot/batch codes in a separate process on a dedicated label printer, wasting precious down time before you can label your products with our AP360/362 label applicators? 

We are now able to offer a solution to streamline this process, to print the information either onto the label or your container at the same time as labelling your product. 

This will remove that extra stage in your production process, as well as negating the requirement for a thermal transfer label printer that would need to be operated from a laptop or PC, saving both space & time. 

The AP-CODE can be easily retro fitted to existing Primera AP360 & AP362 label applicators. 

Looks like our printer played an April Fool's joke on us when it came to July in the new calendars. Unfortunately in our calendar July starts on Sunday and only has 30 days whereas it should start on Saturday and have 31 days.  Please update your calendar or email us for an over-sticker you can apply to the July page.  We'll get those labels out to you before the social obligations come in!