Greater protection for food allergy sufferers

Stratford-on-Avon District Council is reminding food businesses across the District about new rules which will affect the way they provide allergen information.

The new regulations came into force at the weekend, Saturday 13 December and all food businesses now need to verbally explain or signpost allergenic information for the food they sell or provide.

Food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions and the number of affected people is growing. The primary cause of food allergy deaths in the UK is allergic reactions when food is eaten outside the home, and allergenic ingredients have not been declared.

The new EU rules require all food businesses to inform customers if any of 14 allergenic ingredients are present in the food they make or serve. This can be communicated to customers in writing on menus, verbally through explanations by staff, or signposted to where or how more information can be found.

Cllr Sir William Lawrence, Environmental Services Portfolio says: “All food businesses in Stratford District should be ready to provide this vital information.  We understand food businesses work long hours, leaving little time to read through new guidance. However, easy-to-understand information is available on the Food Standards Agency's website to help businesses with these changes.  Businesses could be missing out on vital custom by not providing clear and accurate allergen information about the food they sell or serve.  These new rules will make food outlets more attractive to those who are unfortunate enough to suffer a food allergy, offering them a greater degree of confidence that the food they're served is safe for them to eat."

Stratford District Council's food safety team have been working with the FSA to make sure businesses know what to do and how to provide safe fare for those with food allergies and intolerances.

Food allergy involves the immune system. A reaction can occur within minutes following consumption of a food, symptoms include itching, pain, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis.

Food intolerance does not involve the immune system and a reaction can occur within hours consumption of the food, symptoms can include eczema, bloating, diarrhoea, weight loss. Symptoms can remain with the individual for hours or days.

In the UK, it is estimated that one to two per cent of adults and five to eight of children have a food allergy. This equates to around two million people living in the UK with a food allergy and this figure does not include those with food intolerances.

This means the actual number of affected people living with food allergy and/or food intolerance is considerably more.

The FSA has produced resources that can be found at: www.food.gov.uk/allergen-resources