Breaking Update
Vegan/Pareve Food: Allergy Check Ingredients
Israel's Health Ministry clarifies "pareve" or "vegan" labels may mask milk allergens like BLG protein, stressing allergy sufferers must read ingredient lists.
Following the market entry of new food products, including ingredients produced with advanced technologies and containing non-animal derived milk protein, the Ministry of Health wishes to clarify that labeling a product as “pareve” or “vegan” does not indicate the absence of allergens, including milk allergen.
Recently, BLG (β-Lactoglobulin) protein has been approved for use in food. This protein is added to non-animal derived products. In individuals with milk allergy, this is a milk allergen that can cause a severe and even life-threatening allergic reaction (just like regular milk). Products containing this ingredient may be labeled as “pareve” or “vegan,” but they are not suitable for individuals allergic to milk and must be labeled with milk allergen in the ingredients list.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the way to verify the presence of allergens is by reading the ingredients list on the product label.
