AFGC and GS1 support Food Allergy Week

Today marks the first day of Food Allergy Week. This annual national campaign by Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) helps to promote and develop the awareness of food allergy and anaphylactic reactions amongst Australians.

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and GS1 Australia, who both support the event, are calling on all companies in the food and grocery industry to get on board with GS1 GoScan - a tool to help consumers access trusted food product allergen information.

A free app launched in March this year, GS1 GoScan is Australia’s first whole-of-industry endorsed smartphone application that helps consumers decide if a food product suits their individual dietary needs by simply scanning the barcode.

Developed in association with major retailers, local and international food companies, the AFGC, Australian universities and national health organisations including A&AA, the app helps consumers with allergies, intolerances and special diets by giving them more information about their food - direct from the manufacturer.

“GS1 Australia has gone to extreme lengths in working with key groups, including the AFGC and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia to produce a tool that shares accurate information on food ingredient content and food allergy,” said Maria Palazzolo, GS1 Australia CEO.

“The AFGC believes that the introduction of the GS1 GoScan smartphone app will play an important part in responding to consumer demand for greater information on products,” said AFGC CEO Gary Dawson. “This app is a good example of innovation being used by food manufacturers to provide rich data to consumers that would otherwise be restricted by the size and shape of a physical label.”

For more information about GS1 GoScan, click here. More information about Food Allergy Week is available here.