Since the introduction of the Food Information to Consumers Regulations (FIC) in 2014, allergen awareness in pubs has improved, according to research from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
The research indicated there had also been improvements in the eating-out experience of those with a food allergy or intolerance since the implementation of the regulations.
Necessary precautions
With more than 2m people in the UK having a food allergy and an estimated 600,000 having coeliac disease, pubs need to be on alert to take all precautions necessary to ensure that no diners have an anaphylactic reaction.
Global information technology company Geniusin has upgraded its interface on its getWaiter! app, which is designed to lower the business risk of allergen negligence.
While dealing with allergens can be a daunting task for operators and pub staff as service times can often be busy, with waiters and waitresses trying to juggle a number of tasks at the same time, the app offers a spare set of eyes, giving the pub team a gentle reminder of each customer's allergen requirements.
GetWaiter! also allows operators to track what their customers are most often allergic to and to further streamline menus in order to provide a wider range of options for those diners with specific requirements.
Ordering safely
The allergen function on the app allows customers to choose menu options free of ingredients they cannot, or would not prefer to have.
It gives consumers a solution to the issue of identifying the meals and drinks they can order safely and with confidence.
Meanwhile, The Morning Advertiser revealed that ‘fake’ allergic customers can be damaging to pubs and specifically, workflow in kitchens.
Ensuring food is free of specific food types that can impact a diner’s health and having to change dishes are just two of the ways pubs have been impacted.