Allergen Labelling and Food Safety
Recently, there have been many issues highlighted about allergen labelling in the food industry.
At the start of this year a proposal was announced by the environment secretary to toughen allergen labelling laws to give consumers clearer information on the food they buy. The new rules cover food to go retailers, where foods are made, packaged and sold on the same premises. ⁶
This followed consultations with the parents of a 15 year old who died from an allergic reaction after eating a Pret A Manger sandwich that didn't have allergen labelling back in 2016, and the food industry. ³
Current rules do not require foodservice businesses to display allergen information on- pack, unlike pre-packed food. However information can be given in person by the business if consumers ask. ⁶
Is this enough to prevent another tragic death? The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is calling for improvements on the way allergy information is presented. ⁶
How many people suffer from allergies?
The UK has some of the highest prevalence rates of allergic conditions in the world. A huge 44% of British adults suffer from at least one allergy, and this number is on the rise, growing around 2 million between 2008 and 2009. Almost half of these sufferers have more than one allergy. ¹
Most food allergies affect younger children under the age of three, around one in 14 have at least one allergy. Most children who have food allergies to milk, eggs, soya and wheat in early life will grow out of it by the time they reach school, however with nut allergies four out of 5 children will remain allergic for the rest of their lives. ⁵
So what is actually being proposed?
A nine-week consultation will look into different ways to label food packaging, like putting all ingredients or just allergens on the label. They'll also discuss other ways to let people know about allergens in food. ³
Have there been any results so far?
A food industry expert has welcomed these Government plans to improve allergen labelling. Dominic Watkins, DWF partner and head of its food group has said “of the consulted-on options, creating a mandatory, consistent scheme directing customers to ask staff for further information would be a quick, effective and proportionate solution… coupled with the campaign to raise awareness, this is the right way forward”. ⁴
Pret A Manger intends to provide full ingredient lists for all products by the end of summer. This move is in response to the tragic death of Natasha, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction to sesame seeds in a baguette. Numerous other chains have already implemented precautionary allergen warnings.²
Clearly there has already been a huge improvement on the attitudes of allergen labelling in foodservice businesses, however, there's still a long way to go to make this a mandatory rule. Hopefully the future will see all Foodservices giving clearer information on what ingredients are in their goods.
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