Struggling with Allergen-Free CPG Operations & Compliance?

The Operational Burden of Allergen-Free Claims

Allergen-free is one of the fastest-growing claims in the food industry. But it is also one of the most operationally demanding. A single allergen contamination event, whether from a shared production line, a mislabeled ingredient, or a supplier substitution, can result in a Class I recall, massive legal liability, and permanent brand damage.

Supplier Certificate Management

Every ingredient in an allergen-free product must come with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) confirming it was tested and found free of the relevant allergens. Managing these certificates, tracking expiration dates, ensuring they cover the specific lot codes you received, is a full-time job in a spreadsheet. You need a system that automatically links CoAs to purchase orders and flags expired certificates before they are used in production.

Co-Packer Allergen Controls

If you use a co-packer, you must verify that their allergen control program is robust enough to protect your claims. This includes dedicated production lines, scheduled allergen changeovers, and environmental swab testing. Your co-packer audit checklist must specifically address these controls, and the results must be documented and retained.

Lot-Level Traceability for Allergen Recalls

If a supplier notifies you that an ingredient was contaminated with an undeclared allergen, you must identify every finished good that contains that ingredient's specific lot code within hours. Guidance's lot traceability links every raw ingredient lot code to every finished good batch, allowing you to execute a surgical recall rather than pulling an entire month of production.