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Volume 47, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1573-9775
  • E-ISSN: 2352-1236
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Samenvatting

Abstract

Allergen information on food packaging is a notoriously difficult type of communication. Complex and nuanced information has to be presented to a lay audience, taking into consideration legal and practical constraints. Dutch and EU rules and guidelines on allergen information do not solve the problems: even when complying with these rules, food producers communicate allergen information in different ways. Consumers find the information unclear and wrongly interpret differences in presentation as differences in risk of an allergic reaction. This synthesis article brings together three recent studies conducted by an interdisciplinary research consortium focusing on allergen communication: a corpus field study on how allergens are actually declared on Dutch food labels, an experiment on how this information is interpreted by consumers with or without a food allergy, and a qualitative interview study with food producers about their choices and challenges in allergen communication. The current article connects the three studies within a communicative framework, resulting in more insight into the complex communication situation around allergen information and in advice on allergen communication considering messages, receivers and senders. In conclusion, we reflect on the benefits of working in a consortium with communication experts, content experts and professionals from the field.

© Bregje Holleman, Marty Blom & Yvette Linders
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2026-01-20
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Communicatie over allergenen in voeding
TvT 47, 118 (2025); https://doi.org/10.5117/TVT2025.02.002.HOLL
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