Allergens
An advice leaflet for people who have been newly diagnosed with a food allergy has been published by the Food Standards Agency in collaboration with six allergy and nutrition organisations.
The leaflet, 'Buying food when you have a food allergy or intolerance', guides people with a food allergy or intolerance, including coeliac disease, through the steps to remember when buying food and when eating out.
The topics covered include:
checking the label on pre-packed food
what to look out for when foods aren't pre-packed
talking to restaurant staff about your allergy
what to watch out for when using self-service restaurants.
Download the leaflet at http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/publication/buyingfoodallergy1109.pdf (opens in a new window)
Businesses can also download a poster and risk assessment from the related documents.
Below is a list of useful links to allergens information:
Food Standards Agency − Allergen management and Labeling for Pre-packed Foods
Best practice guidance on managing food allergens with particular reference to avoiding cross-contamination and using appropriate advisory labelling (e.g. 'May Contain' labelling).
Food Standards Agency − Providing Allergen Information for Non Pre-Packed Foods
These documents provide voluntary best practice advice to help food retailers and caterers selling food that is not pre-packed provide allergen information on the food they sell.
Food Standards Agency - food allergy online training
http://allergytraining.food.gov.uk/english/ (opens in a new window)
Food Standards Agency − Safe Food Better Business
Safer food, better business (SFBB) is an innovative and practical approach to food safety management.
It has been developed to help small businesses put in place food safety management procedures and comply with food hygiene regulations.
SFBB includes advice about allergens management.
http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/regulation/hygleg/hyglegresources/sfbb/ (opens in a new window)
Food Standards Agency - Eat well, be well, food allergy and intolerance
Practical advice and guidance for consumers who may have a food allergy or intolerance.
What to look for when you are shopping for someone with food allergy or intolerance. How to find out about the symptoms of allergic reactions to food
http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthissues/foodintolerance/ (opens in a new window)
Allergytraining.com
An organisation set up by Hazel Gowland, Dr Lisa Ackerley and Dr Ian Leitch to provide allergy awareness and training to the Food Industry.
Hazel Gowland and Dr Lisa Ackerley, together with Principal Consultant Karen Martin, have now developed and delivered over 35 workshops for UK food enforcement officers on behalf of the Food Standards Agency in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Further programmes are underway in England, Scotland and Wales
http://www.allergytraining.com/index.htm (opens in a new window)
Allergy UK
Allergy UK is a national medical charity established to represent the views and needs of people with allergy, food intolerance and chemical sensitivity.
Allergy UK is the operational name of the British Allergy Foundation, a charitable company.
Allergy UK can provide up to date information on all aspects of allergy, food intolerance and chemical sensitivity.
http://www.allergyuk.org/ (opens in a new window)
Anaphylaxis Campaign
The Anaphylaxis Campaign is an independent charity guided by UK allergists.
The campaign's purpose is to help people with life threatening reactions to peanuts and other foods.
The Anaphylaxis Campaign is a membership-based organisation which provides information and guidance, primarily to its members and to potential members, but also to the media, health professionals and food companies.
http://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/ (opens in a new window)
Coeliac UK
Coeliac UK is the charity working for people with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH).
Their mission is to improve the lives of people living with the condition through support, campaigning and research.
Their vision is that the needs of people with coeliac disease and DH are universally recognised and met.
http://www.coeliac.org.uk/ (opens in a new window)
Related documents
The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)