Food allergies are becoming more common, and while some reactions are mild, others can be life-threatening. Food businesses must take allergens seriously and follow the law to keep customers safe.
Legal responsibilities
As a food business, you must:
- ensure food is safe to eat
- provide accurate allergen information when asked
- label food correctly, especially if it is pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS)
Failing to provide clear and accurate allergen information can lead to serious consequences, including legal action.
What our officers check
During inspections, our Environmental Health Officers check that food handlers:
- understand the effects of allergens on health
- can identify allergenic ingredients in the food they handle
- know how to prevent cross-contamination/ control food allergens
- can provide accurate allergen information to customers
The 14 allergens you must declare
By law, you must declare if any of the following allergens are present in your food:
| Allergen | Examples |
|---|---|
| Celery | |
| Cereals containing gluten | Wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut |
| Crustaceans | Crab, lobster, shrimps and prawns |
| Eggs | |
| Fish | |
| Lupin | Consumed and used as flour |
| Milk and milk products | Including lactose |
| Molluscs | Mussels, oysters, cockles, scallops. octopus and squid |
| Mustard | |
| Nuts | Almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, pecans, macadamias, walnuts and cashews. |
| Peanuts | Also called groundnuts |
| Sesame seeds | |
| Soya | Found in edamame beans, miso paste, soya flours, tofu, and in desserts including inc cream and sauces |
| Sulphur dioxide | Often used in dried fruit and can be found in some wine, beer and soft drinks |
Customers may also be allergic to other ingredients, but only these 14 must be declared by law.
Training and resources
All staff must be trained to:
- respond accurately to allergen information requests
- know the risks and all the measures to prevent cross-contamination during food preparation
Helpful resources:
- Food Standards Agency: Allergen guidance
- Free online allergen training
- YouTube: Allergens in Food
- Chartered Trading Standards Institute: Food Allergen Awareness (available in a number of different languages)
Labelling for pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) foods
From 1 October 2021, under Natasha’s Law, PPDS foods must be labelled with:
- the name of the food
- a full list of ingredients
- allergens clearly emphasised
This applies to foods like sandwiches, salads or pies packed on-site before being selected by the customer.
Learn more:
Reporting an allergic reaction
If you believe you’ve had an allergic reaction after eating food from a business, you can report it using the North East Councils’ online form:
Your report will be reviewed by the local authority where the food was purchased.
Contact us
For advice or to request an advisory visit, email:
HBC.CommercialServicesTeam@hartlepool.gov.uk