Food allergen and intolerance requirements
There was a change in the law in 2014 which affects the way food businesses must tell their customers about allergens in the food they serve or sell if it is sold open or wrapped at your premises.
You have to tell customers if any of the allergens listed below is in their food, regardless of the quantity of the ingredient:
- Cereals containing gluten
- Crustaceans
- Molluscs
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Nuts
- Soybeans
- Milk
- Celery
- Mustard
- Sesame seeds
- Lupin
- Sulphur dioxide
You cannot that you don’t know whether a food contains an allergen or that all the food that you serve may contain an allergen. You will need to know what is in the food that you provide.
The legislation is called the 'Food Information Regulations 2014' and further information can be found at: Allergy and Intolerance guidance. This link will take you to the Food Standards Agency website. The FSA page offers useful guidance for businesses about food allergens and how they can control the food allergen risks within their business and protect their customers.
Those ingredients must be listed as they may cause a severe allergic reaction to some of your customers.
Takeaways and Internet Sales
Your business may involve taking telephone or internet orders. You will need to provide allergen information orally or in writing before the order is complete.The meal containers must be clearly labelled to say which contain specific allergens. In addition, you must identify clearly, which container has food made without a named allergen.
An online training course for you and your staff can be accessed on the Food Standard Agencies Website.
Allergen forms for your business
The 14 Allergens Information Sheet
Allergen Information Data Sheet