News release | 18-12-2025 | 16:00

From January 1, 2026, new rules will apply regarding how and when food companies must warn on labels about allergens that may unintentionally enter food. For example, through cross-contamination during food production. An allergen from one food product can end up in another via machinery. These new rules were discussed two years ago and announced last year to allow companies to prepare. From 2026, the NVWA will check whether prepackaged products comply with the new rules.

Cross-contamination can occur wherever food is produced, packaged, or traded. For example, in factories with machines processing multiple food products. Companies must do everything possible to prevent cross-contamination. If cross-contamination occurs despite all precautions, the seller or producer must conduct a risk analysis to determine if reference values are exceeded. If not exceeded, no warning label should be placed.

Labeling rules

The warning must be placed on the label of a prepackaged product. This is also known as PAL, Precautionary Allergen Labelling. The warning can appear in two ways on the label:

  • With the text ‘May contain X’. For example: ‘May contain sesame’.
  • With the text ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’. For example: ‘Not suitable for people with a peanut allergy’.

All rules are stated in the Policy rule precautionary allergen labeling.

Supervision

For people with food allergies, it is important they can trust the correct information about allergens. The NVWA therefore supervises compliance with allergen information rules. From January 1, 2026, inspections will check whether labels on prepackaged products correctly warn about cross-contamination with allergens. We also check if entrepreneurs take the right measures to prevent cross-contamination with allergens. Non-compliance can result in warnings or fines.

Hospitality and artisanal entrepreneurs must pay extra attention to ingredient and (semi-)finished product labels to provide correct allergen information to consumers. This will be further discussed in a meeting between the ministry, artisanal trade associations, patient organizations, and the NVWA.

More information

The document Guidelines cross-contamination allergens describes how companies should handle and prevent cross-contamination.