Botanical Impurities in the Supply Chain: A New Allergenic Risk Exacerbated by Geopolitical Challenges

Abstract

Background: The supply chains of food raw materials have recently been heavily influenced by geopolitical events. Products that came from, or transited through, areas currently in conflict are now preferentially supplied from alternative areas. These changes may entail risks for food safety.

Methods: We review the potential allergenicity of botanical impurities, specifically vegetable contaminants, with particular attention to the contamination of vegetable oils. We delve into the diverse types of botanical impurities, their sources, and the associated allergenic potential. Our analysis encompasses an evaluation of the regulatory framework governing botanical impurities in food labeling.

Results: Unintended plant-derived contaminants may manifest in raw materials during various stages of food production, processing, or storage, posing a risk of allergic reactions for individuals with established food allergies. Issues may arise from natural occurrence, cross-contamination in the supply chain, and contamination at during production. The food and food service industries are responsible for providing and preparing foods that are safe for people with food allergies: we address the challenges inherent in risk assessment of botanical impurities.

Conclusions: The presence of botanical impurities emerges as a significant risk factor for food allergies in the 2020s. We advocate for regulatory authorities to fortify labeling requirements and develop robust risk assessment tools. These measures are necessary to enhance consumer awareness regarding the potential risks posed by these contaminants.

Keywords: botanical impurities; cross-contamination; food allergy; food labelling; food safety; nutrition; pediatric; public health; reference dose; vegetable contaminants.

Figure 1

Four representative members of the Bet v 1 family of proteins. Bet v 1 is from birch pollen, Pru av 1 from cherries, Api g 1 from celery, and Ara h 8 from peanuts.

Figure 2

Examples of allergies subject to obligatory allergy labeling across the world. The eight main allergies, or “The Big 8,” are indicated in shades of green for the nations where they are present and need to be notified. Country-specific allergies that are also required to be labeled are displayed with specialized icons. (Adapted from Fiocchi et al., 2021) [67].

Figure 3

Objective symptoms after exposure to an ED01 or ED05 amount of peanuts. OAS = oral allergy symptoms. ED01, the eliciting dose predicted to provoke reactions in 1% of the allergic population; ED05, the eliciting dose predicted to provoke reactions in 5% of the allergic population. (Adapted from Turner et al., 2022) [69,71].