Following a public consultation, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) published best practice guidance on 5 March 2025, for food businesses providing non-prepacked foods, on how they can provide mandatory allergen information to consumers. Current legislation requires food businesses to tell customers if the food they are serving contains any of the 14 notifiable allergens, choosing whether… Read more »
Allergen information for distance selling
If you’re selling food online, through phone ordering, or any other distance method, you need to comply with the UK’s strict requirements for the provision of allergen information. Whether you’re running a restaurant offering delivery, an online bakery, or a food ordering app, knowing your legal responsibilities is essential for keeping your customers safe and… Read more »
Draft guidance for allergen information
Food Standards Agency (FSA) opens a public consultation into new Best Practice Guidance for the provision of Allergen Information for Non-Prepacked Foods. Current legislation requires food businesses to tell customers if the food they are serving contains any of the 14 notifiable allergens, choosing whether they provide this information in writing or verbally. The FSA… Read more »
Naming vegan alternatives to dairy foods
In recent years, the rise of vegan diets has increased the variety and availability of plant-based alternatives to dairy products. Consumers now have an array of options; from almond, oat and soy ‘milk’ to vegan ‘cheese’, ‘yogurt’ and ‘cream’. However, UK food producers face significant challenges in naming these products due to stringent regulations prohibiting… Read more »
Beyond the 14 regulated food allergens
Since creating Menu Guide, we’ve encountered an increasingly diverse range of foods that may cause allergic reactions in adults and children. We’ve also found that the list of foods legally classified as allergens may vary by country. In the UK, 14 foods are legally required to be declared as allergens. These are: celery, cereals containing… Read more »
6% of UK adults have a food allergy
The Patterns and Prevalence of Adult Food Allergy (PAFA) report, published in May 2024 by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has found that around 6% of the UK adult population are estimated to have a clinically confirmed food allergy. This equates to around 2.4 million people. Food allergy, also known as hypersensitivity, is caused by… Read more »