FSA rolls out enhanced allergen rules for non-prepacked food

UK – The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), which oversees food safety and hygiene, has released best practice guidance for retailers, caterers, and other food businesses on providing mandatory allergen information for non-prepacked food, whether sold in person or online.

The publication sets out a best practice guidance for food businesses providing non-prepacked foods on how they can give mandatory allergen information to consumers with food allergies, intolerance and coeliac disease.

It is intended to support businesses in complying with regulations most effectively and meeting consumer expectations by adopting good practices and enabling consumers to make informed choices about the food they eat more easily.

Only relevant to food businesses operating in Wales, England and Northern Ireland, the updated guidance states that written allergen information should always be available for non-prepacked food alongside a conversation between servers and customers about their allergen requirements.

It also includes examples of providing written allergen information and free tools to support businesses with implementation, such as allergy icons, an allergen matrix and a new allergy poster which food businesses can download and use on their assets (e.g. menus and websites).

‘‘We are still encouraging consumers to tell food business staff about any food allergies or intolerances, but we are now setting an expectation that businesses should provide written allergen information and encourage a conversation with their customers,’’ says Katie Pettifer, Chief Executive, Food Standards Agency.

This development follows an FSA Board meeting in December 2023, where members agreed on the need to mandate written allergen information for non-prepacked food in the out-of-home sector, with an additional expectation for a verbal conversation between customers and food business staff to provide an extra layer of protection for consumers.

“At the FSA, we are committed to making lives better for the 2 million people with a food allergy, food intolerance or coeliac disease. In today’s discussions, it was clear that the Board felt that we should set an expectation that food businesses like coffee shops and restaurants provide allergen information in writing and conversation,” Professor Susan Jebb, Chair of the FSA, commented on the Board’s position.

This update is seen as a vital step towards preventing tragedies caused by the unintentional consumption of allergenic foods. 

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