Food Allergens

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Food Allergen and Intolerance Requirements under the Food Information Regulations


The Food Information for Consumers Regulations 2014 introduced the biggest change in food labelling requirements in almost twenty years. With all food businesses including manufacturers, restaurants, takeaways, retailers, bakeries and sandwich bars having to inform their customers if any of fourteen specific allergens are contained in the food they serve or sell.

The fourteen allergens include nuts, peanuts, egg, milk, cereals containing gluten, soya, celery, sesame, crustaceans, fish, mustard, molluscs, lupin and sulphur dioxide/sulphites

From 13th December 2014, consumers can expect to see details of the allergens contained in the food they buy either on the label, menus, chalk boards, tickets or provided verbally by an appropriate member of staff. When ordering take-away foods, they can expect to be asked about their allergy requirements before they place their order and to be provided with further information regarding the allergies on delivery of their meal.

A number of useful links to help both businesses and customers with the new requirements are detailed below:


Businesses Selling Food Loose, Unpackaged and Pre-packed for Direct Sale


Food Allergies and Intolerance Notice

Food Allergen Risk Assessment for Caterers

Think Allergy: http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/publication/thinkallergy.pdf

Allergen Diagram

Allergen Table Template

Allergen Leaflet (Simplified Chinese)

Allergen information for loose foods – Advice on the new Food Information Regulations for small and medium food businesses leaflet: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/publication/loosefoodsleaflet.pdf

Think Allergy Poster in Simplified Chinese

Food allergy on-line training: http://allergytraining.food.gov.uk


Manufacturers and Other Businesses Selling Pre-packed Foods


British Retail Consortium (Guidance on food allergens): http://www.brc.org.uk/downloads/Guidance%20on%20Allergen%20Labelling.pdf

Allergy: what to consider when labelling food. A guide for small and medium businesses that make or sell pre packed food: http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/publication/allergy-labelling-prepacked.pdf

Further FSA Resources:http://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/allergy-guide/allergen-resources


Customers


FSA advice for food allergic consumers on the changes to allergen labelling under the EU FIC: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/publication/allergy-leaflet.pdf