When it comes to food labeling, transparency is essential for consumer safety, especially for those with allergies. So, it’s understandably concerning that wines and other alcoholic beverages often do not list ingredients like egg, fish, or milk on their labels. This is particularly troubling for individuals like Brenda, who is allergic to fish and worries about potential exposure to allergens in wine, as well as for her son, who is anaphylactic to dairy.
The issue lies in the current Australian alcohol labeling laws, which are different from those for regular food products. Under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, alcoholic beverages, including wine, are classified separately from food and are exempt from many food allergen labeling requirements.
Why Are Alcoholic Beverages Exempt?
The Code mandates certain information on alcohol labels, such as alcohol content, standard drink count, and pregnancy warnings, but ingredient lists and allergens are not required. This exemption exists because some allergens used in alcohol production, like milk or fish proteins, undergo processes like fermentation or clarification (e.g., isinglass, derived from fish swim bladders, used in wine and beer). These processes are believed to make these ingredients safe, as they are no longer detectable or present in a harmful form in the final product. For instance, distilled alcohol from wheat or milk doesn’t require wheat or milk to be declared because the process is thought to neutralize allergens.
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However, this doesn’t apply to all allergens. If an allergen remains in the final product and has not been altered or rendered safe during production, such as when egg or milk is directly added, the ingredient must be listed.
What Can You Do?
While there are gaps in alcohol labeling regulations, there are ways to protect yourself and your family:
- Ask for Ingredients: When purchasing wine or consuming alcohol at a venue, ask to see the label. By law, if allergens like fish, milk, or egg are present in the final product, they must be declared on the label.
- Declare Your Allergy: When dining out or ordering alcohol, be proactive in telling your server about your allergies. Servers are required to assist you with allergen information and ensure that the drinks they serve do not contain harmful ingredients. If you feel uncomfortable with their response, you can also make a complaint to local food enforcement authorities.
- Consider Vegan Options: Some individuals with allergies, especially to dairy and fish, may find that vegan-certified products are safer, as they tend to avoid using animal-derived ingredients like egg whites, milk, and fish products.
Conclusion
The absence of mandatory allergen labeling on alcohol remains a contentious issue. As a consumer, it’s crucial to be vigilant, ask questions, and communicate your allergies when dining out or purchasing alcohol. Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia offers resources to help you manage allergens in alcohol, and seeking out third-party certified products can provide peace of mind.
If you feel that a venue is not meeting its obligations to disclose allergen information, you are within your rights to file a complaint with local authorities.
