Understanding Vegan vs Free-from Labels and the Importance of PAL in Food Choices

Vegan vs Free-From

“Vegan” vs “Free‑from”: how to read labels safely (and what PAL means)

A vegan label is about ethics/diet, not safety for allergy sufferers. Always check the ingredients and any “may contain” statement (also called Precautionary Allergen Labelling, PAL).

Who this helps: Anyone with a food allergy or buying for someone who has one.

Key takeaways

• “Vegan” ≠ “allergen‑free”. Cross‑contamination can happen in shared factories.

• “Free‑from ” means the product is formulated and controlled to exclude that allergen.

• Good PAL uses specific wording (e.g., “may contain milk”), not vague terms like “may contain nuts”.

Why the confusion?

“Vegan” is a dietary/ethical label. It avoids animal‑derived ingredients, but it doesn’t guarantee the absence of trace amounts of milk, egg, fish, etc., from shared lines. That’s why the UK regulator and charities keep reminding consumers not to assume vegan equals safe for allergies.

What PAL (“may contain”) is trying to tell you

PAL warns about a realistic risk of accidental presence of an allergen. Responsible use of PAL helps you make informed choices. Over‑use can be unhelpful; the current push is for clear, specific, and evidence‑based PAL.

Shopper checklist

• Read the ingredients list every time (recipes change).

• Look for specific PAL: “may contain milk/egg/peanut…”

• Treat “vegan” as neutral for allergy risk.

• If in doubt, contact the brand for their allergen controls.

FAQ

Is “plant‑based” the same as vegan? Not necessarily. It usually means mostly or entirely plant ingredients; it says nothing about cross‑contamination controls.

Can I rely on allergy filters in delivery apps? Use them as a starting point only; always confirm with the restaurant directly.

When to seek helpIf you experience symptoms after eating (hives, swelling, breathing difficulty, collapse), use your adrenaline auto‑injector (if prescribed) and call 999 immediately.

References

• Food Standards Agency (2024) Vegan food and allergens. Available at: https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/vegan-food-and-allergens.

• Food Standards Agency (2024) FSA launches campaign highlighting risk of food labelled as vegan to people with allergies. Available at: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/fsa-launches-campaign-highlighting-risk-of-food-labelled-as-vegan-to-people-with-allergies.

• Food Standards Agency (2024) Precautionary allergen labelling and allergen thresholds — Board paper. Available at: https://www.food.gov.uk/board-papers/precautionary-allergen-labelling-and-allergen-thresholds.

• The Vegan Society (2024) The Vegan Society supports new FSA campaign. Available at: https://www.vegansociety.com/news/news/vegan-society-support-new-fsa-campaign.