FDA Food Labeling Allergen Update

— Written by Nick Fragedakis | November 19, 2025 (Updated: Nov. 19, 2025, 4:58 a.m.)

Recent updates to an FDA Guidance titled "Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act" have removed Coconut as a major food allergen.

....also, several tree nuts, including coconut, are no longer considered major food allergens and do not appear on the list of major food allergens in the revised 5th edition of the Food Allergen Q&A Guidance.

What does this mean for labels that contain an Allergen Warning to their consumers? Food Label News highlighted a question from a food manufacturer that asks what this means for their current labels.

Read the Question and Answer below and consider what this means for your labels.

November 2025 - Vol. 25, No. 22

Hello again! Now that FDA has removed coconut as an allergen, do manufacturers need to rush to reprint their product labels? We’re sharing guidance on how to handle these types of label revisions. We’re also celebrating our community by featuring another Insiders member and colleague. We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Reader Q+A

Answers to your important questions.

Q: Our snack products contain coconut, which is listed in the allergen “contains” statement on our product labels. Now that FDA removed coconut from the list of allergens, do we need to print new packaging right away?

R.S., Food Manufacturer, UT

A: No, FDA is not requiring manufacturers to immediately revise packaging to remove “coconut” from the list of allergens.

While companies are expected to be in compliance with allergen labeling rules, FDA also recognizes the burden of label revisions. Thus, FDA’s guidance states that product labels may be corrected the next time they are printed. Alternatively, manufacturers may choose to use a sticker to cover the outdated labeling.