This panel session focused on FDA’s recent guidance and industry engagement on allergens, including the agency’s current thinking on labeling, enforcement, and thresholds, as well as provided insight on how global regulatory bodies are approaching allergen management. Attendees learned more about how the growing regulatory focus on allergens may have an impact on operations and also walked through how allergen risk assessments may be conducted for spices.

Aaron Zeisloft and Mayank Srivastava with ofi provided an update on Indian chili as part of the 2026 Winter Crop Reports. The presentation provided an overview of crops, supply, demand, market price and inventory, quality, an outlook, and summary/conclusions.