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Allergen labelling laws

Author Damien Wilde
Posted On 27th August 2014

AllergensWith new allergen labelling laws coming into effect later on this year we ask are you aware of what needs to be done?

The entire industry is combining its efforts to make the necessary changes as seamless as possible, but as ever, more needs to be done.

Simply put, existing regulations which have been in place for well over a decade are being expanded this December.

This means that the entire foodservice industry – which includes cafes, restaurants and pubs – to track all the allergenic ingredients that are used on site.

In a bid to help out businesses of all sizes, the Food Standards Agency has put together a draft document that is designed to help premises meet this impending change of legislation.

Mandatory obligations for those within the foodservice industry include:

  • Ensuring that allergen information is easily accessible is clearly visible to customers and is legible.
  • Where this isn’t possible businesses should point out to customers where this information can be found, such as asking a member of staff.
  • Allergen information should be made available for the entire dish that is being served, and where food is served as part of a buffet, information should be made available for each individual item.
  • Businesses that provide allergen information orally must ensure it is consistent, accurate and verifiable when challenged. Verification must also be provided in a write form.

Speaking about the last point, Sue Hattersley, of the FSA, said that “enforcement officers could ask a member of staff to let them know where the allergy information is for a specific product.”

This point is crucial as on top of getting the administrative side of things sorted, foodservice operators will have to considering scheduling routine training procedures as a method to ensure that staff members can promptly answer nutritional and allergen enquiries.

Worryingly, according to the Eating Out Survey, less than a fifth of all diners trust front-of-house staff when it comes to relaying suitable information about allergens in food.

Although this change does not come into effect until December, work should start now.

Have you made any changes?

By David Castor (dcastor) CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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