FSA offers food allergy advice

While all prepacked foods are required by law to declare specific allergenic ingredients on the label, foods which are sold unwrapped (eg in restaurants, bakeries, deli counters or salad bars) or foods that are sold prepacked for direct sale (eg foods that are wrapped on the same premises as they are sold, such as pies or sandwiches made on site) are not covered by the same regulations. In these situations customers with a food allergy typically have to ask for ingredient information at the point of sale, or rely on any written information provided voluntarily by businesses. The FSA's 'voluntary best practice guidance' on 'the provision of allergen information for non prepacked foods' is due to be published in January. It is aimed at all businesses that sell food unwrapped or prepacked for direct sale, including catering operations in schools, hospitals and prisons, as well as at corporate events, etc. The guidance package will provide advice on how to help customers with food allergy or intolerance and includes an information leaflet and poster that clearly outlines the major food allergens and a simple step-by-step guide for how to deal with customer enquiries on the subject. For more information visit www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/guidancenotes/labelregsguidance/