The recent change in the law regarding labelling of food allergens ( EU Regulation 1169/2011) has helped people who live with food allergies and intolerances, to identify which products contain any of the top 14 major allergens.

However, the grey area of "May Contains" advice remains a voluntary contribution, and is entirely unregulated.

Some companies may use a number of different phrases to indicate the presence and chances of cross contamination on their packaging. Other companies may use a blanket warning for all of their products, even those where there is no risk of cross contamination.

Where one company writes "made on a line which also handles ..." on the packaging of a product, another company may write "may contain traces of ..." or "not suitable for ... allergy sufferers" other companies may not add a statement at all, (as seen recently with Hotel Chocolat, who omitted "may contain" advice and subsequently recalled their products after comments from the allergy community on social media. http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKFSA/bulletins/fce740 )

This means many people living with serious food allergies can not be certain of the safety of a product without checking with each individual food manufacture directly.

We, the supporters of this petition, ask for clear, regulated information to be included on all products made and sold in the United Kingdom. We ask that the Food Standards agency publish a list of phrases to be used on products so that the consumers are able to distinguish between a product that is made on the same machines, made in the same factory but on a different line, made in a free from area etc.

Updating this grey area of voluntary contribution and regulating it and making it mandatory will not only assist the consumer in making an informed decision, but also help the manufactures as there will be clear guidance on when to use a statement, and how to word it, thus preventing future costly recalls of products.