Food allergen guide for pubs launched

Guide to Food Allergy covers information on 14 known allergens, provides guidance on where to find training and expert advice for front of house staff, such as what to do when someone experiences a severe allergic reaction.

According to the charity, almost half (44%) of allergy sufferers live in daily fear of a reaction and eating out can cause extreme anxiety for those who live with severe food allergies.

The Food Standards Agency said about 10 people die every year from food-induced anaphylactic reactions, meaning serving an allergy sufferer the wrong food can have severe consequences for the sufferer and the premises.

Allergy awareness is just one of the food-safety issues that pub operators have to keep constantly on their radar.

Regulation could prevent fatalities

Just last year (June), grandmother Julie Hemmings died of suspected food poisoning that she was believed to have contracted after eating at a pub carvery.

Julie and her husband, Mark, ate the meal with her brother-in-law and his wife at a London pub and fell ill shortly afterwards.

The charity has claimed that fatalities likes this could be avoided if regulations were understood and adhered to and if practical allergen management processes had been put in place and followed.

The guide, which can be downloaded for free here, has been produced to give foodservice operators the information they need in order to keep allergic customers safe.

Taking allergens seriously

This new resource is just one part of the work Allergy UK is doing to further support and educate the catering industry.

The charity also runs its Allergy Aware Scheme, which aims to provide consumers with confidence when eating out at accredited food sites.

It allows operators to show guests that they not only take allergens seriously but also offer a high-standard of service for those with allergies.