The menu has been designed in partnership with the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, in response to growing demand from customers for allergen-free choices. The menu is part of Lexington's Mindful Kitchen brand, an initiative designed to promote sustainability, health and well-being through its dishes.
The menu offers balanced meals while omitting the 14 regulated allergies from the food. Despite these omissions, people will be able to choose from a wide variety of dishes such as hearty stews and lasagne.
Matt Wood, managing director of Lexington, said: “It is very important to us to offer food that is delicious but also what our customers really want and Mindful Kitchen has enabled us to do this. We are delighted to have developed this new menu which will meet the special dietary requirements of customers with allergies as we know how critical this is for those individuals.”
Food options for clients include plant-based meals, nutritious smoothies and food derived from sustainable farming practices. Mindful Kitchen also runs seasonal campaigns aimed at alleviating employee concerns, such as vitamin deficiency and sleep quality.
Natasha’s parents Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse added: “We are delighted that Lexington is taking another step towards supporting the food-allergic community. This not only raises awareness of food allergies but also means people with allergies can enjoy meals with greater confidence that they are free from potentially harmful allergens.
“Food allergy is not a choice or a preference, it is a serious and unpredictable disease that can cause a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. 2.4 million adults now have a diagnosed food allergy in the UK and children generally have twice the rate of food allergies.
“There has never been a more important time to understand what is fueling the global allergy epidemic and support the food-allergic community. We are so grateful that our partners Elior and Lexington are leading the way in helping people with food allergies.”