Food allergy news
No evidence nut allergens spread via aircraft ventilation systems, study finds (15 October 2024) The Guardian ~ a review published in the BMJ Archives of Disease in Childhood suggests that passengers with food allergies should board first to clean their seat area and carry two prescribed adrenaline autoinjector devices.
The Food Standards Agency opens a public consultation into new draft Best Practice Guidance for the provision of allergen Information for non-prepacked foods (3 October 2024). Details in our blog.
Inquest into the death of 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs concludes (16 August 2024) The Guardian ~ Hannah, who had severe allergies to dairy, egg, fish and wheat, died after suffering a suspected allergic reaction to a Costa Coffee hot chocolate in February 2023.
‘Reality TV’s Jack Fowler says he almost died after allergic reaction on flight (18 June 2024) BBC News ~ The Love Island star said in a post on Instagram that, despite making his flight attendant aware of a severe nut allergy, he was served a chicken curry that contained cashews. After in-flight treatment with oxygen and his adrenaline pen, Jack was hospitalised on landing.
New research has found that children who ate peanut pastes or puffed peanut snacks regularly from four to six months onwards were 71% less likely to have a peanut allergy at age 13 (30 May 2024). Read the full BBC news and The Guardian reports.
‘Eating out with a food allergy is stressful enough – but with a rare one, it’s a nightmare (24 May 2024) The Guardian ~ An increasing number of people in the UK are unable to eat foods outside the 14 regulated allergens, including pea protein, as Hannah Fearn explains.
Around 2.4 million adults (6%) in the UK have a clinically confirmed food allergy (16 May 2024) Food Standards Agency ~ The Patterns and Prevalence of Adult Food Allergy report, published by the FSA has found that around 6% of the UK adult population (2.4 million people) are estimated to have a clinically confirmed food allergy and more than 30% of adults report living with symptoms of food hypersensitivity.
Menu Guide news, blogs and press coverage
[Blog] Allergen information for distance selling ~ If you’re selling food online, through phone ordering, or any other distance method you are legally required to provide allergen information at two stages in the order process.
[Blog] New guidance for providing allergen information ~ the Food Standards Agency opens a public consultation into new guidance proposing that written allergen information for non-prepacked foods is provided in writing and also supported by a conversation with serving staff.
[News] Menu Guide is shortlisted for the The Food and Drink Federation Awards 2024 ~ we were delighted to be finalists at the FDF Awards which recognise ‘innovation, industry talent and healthier product development’.
[Blog] Naming vegan alternatives to dairy foods ~ the challenges to producers and consumers presented by strict regulations prohibiting the use of dairy designations for plant-based foods.
[Blog] The Patterns and Prevalence of Adult Food Allergy (PAFA) report, published in May 2024 by the Food Standards Agency has found that around 6% of the UK adult population have a clinically confirmed food allergy.
[Press] The Caterer features Menu Guide and highlights how it supports allergen management in their 2023 Technology Prospectus; a comprehensive guide to the technologies that food businesses need to thrive. Download the free guide [pdf]
[News] Menu Guide wins the Innovation & Technical category at the Office for Product Safety and Standards Regulatory Excellence Awards 2021 (11 June 2021). Read the news release [pdf]
[News] Menu Guide is shortlisted for the Office for Product Safety and Standards Regulatory Excellence Awards 2021 (May 2021). Read the news release [pdf]
[Press] What can restaurants do to help customers with allergies? (2019) BBC News ~ “For other restaurants, interactive allergen menu services like Menu Guide can help them cater to the estimated two million people in the UK with a diagnosed food allergy.”
Food allergy news – 2018-2024
Children given daily doses of everyday foods, under medical supervision, to treat milk and peanut allergies are showing signs of improvement, according to early results of an NHS oral immunotherapy clinical trial (8 May 2024). Read the BBC news and The Guardian reports.
Uber makes changes to Super Bowl ad after backlash (11 February 2024) BBC News ~ after criticism of its advertisement, Uber Eats edited out parts that showed a man having an allergic reaction to peanut butter, apparently having forgotten that the primary ingredient was peanut.
Inquest into the death of James Atkinson from an allergic reaction to nuts in a chicken tikka masala pizza ordered from Deliveroo (16 January 2024) BBC News ~ At an inquest into the death of 23-year-old James Atkinson after eating a takeaway, the assistant coroner, Mrs Karen Dilks, said she would support a law change that would require restaurants to provide allergen information in writing.
FSA Board agrees to strengthen allergy information for consumers (14 December 2023) Food Standards Agency ~ The Food Standards Agency Board agreed at their meeting on 13 December that they would like to see written allergen information be mandated in the non-prepacked sector and will be writing to Ministers to discuss the Board’s view. In the meantime, the FSA will work to develop strong guidance for food businesses on how to provide written allergen information to help drive up compliance and make it easier for people with a food allergy, intolerance and coeliac disease to protect themselves when eating out. In addition to providing written information, the Board also acknowledged that there should be an expectation for a verbal conversation to take place between customers and food business staff, to ensure an added layer of protection for consumers.
Allergy emergencies double in recent years in England (28 July 2023) BBC News ~ Dangerous allergic reactions and related NHS hospital admissions are rising in England, prompting health officials to issue advice on how to recognise allergies and respond. For severe food-related allergic reactions, the rise in admissions is even greater.
An evaluation of Natasha’s Law and FSA’s next steps on food hypersensitivity (19 July 2023) Food Standards Agency ~ In this blog, Deputy Director of Food Policy, Natasha Smith, considers the impact of the law and next steps in relation to food hypersensitivity.
‘It’s one of the great mysteries of our time’: why extreme food allergies are on the rise – and what we can do about them (15 July 2023) The Guardian ~ More and more youngsters are experiencing serious reactions to everyday foods. Bee Wilson asks what can be done.
FSA seeks views on new ‘May Contain’ guidance (27 March 2023) Food Standards Agency ~ The Food Standards Agency is seeking views on new advice for how and when to apply precautionary allergen labelling (PAL), commonly seen as “may contain” warnings on food packaging. Share your views via the online consultation by 22 May 2023.
FSA consumer survey reveals changes to our eating habits (1 March 2023) Food Standards Agency ~ The latest wave of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Food and You 2 survey, conducted between April and July 2022, shows that most people surveyed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland had made changes to their eating habits in the last year, with financial reasons being the biggest driver.
Restaurant fined after peanut allergy teen suffered shock (27 October 2022) BBC News ~ Khan’s restaurant in Heaton Road, Newcastle has been fined after selling a takeaway curry that contained peanut and almond protein to a customer with a stated peanut allergy who suffered anaphylactic shock.
Pret a Manger customer had fatal reaction to ‘vegan’ wrap (22 September 2022) BBC News ~ “A product which is marked dairy-free should be free from dairy”. Maria Voisin, senior coroner for Avon following an inquest into the death of Celia Marsh who suffered a fatal allergic reaction to a wrap labelled as vegan despite containing traces of milk.
Food allergies: People are wrongly self-diagnosing, and their diets are suffering (29 August 2022) inews ~ Tom Chivers argues that, while there does seem to be a rise in food allergies, too many people are avoiding foods and doing themselves harm.
FSA flagship survey reveals how we all eat today (11 August 2022) Food Standards Agency ~ In a survey conducted by the Food Standards Agency, 12% of respondents reported that they had a food intolerance, 4% reported having a food allergy, and 1% reported having coeliac disease.
The habits that help prevent allergies (27 July 2022) BBC ~ Isabelle Gerretsen examines the scientific advances that may help fellow food allergy sufferers.
Pioneering clinical trial hopes that ‘everyday foods’ may be used in the future to treat people living with food allergies (18 May 2022) NARF ~ A three-year oral immunotherapy (OIT) trial will examine whether commonly available food products, such as milk and peanuts, can be used under medical supervision to treat those with food allergies.
Parents of Leeds student who died after eating takeaway pizza from Deliveroo demand the ‘full truth’ (13 May 2022) Leeds Live ~ James Atkinson, 23, had a known peanut allergy and may have suffered anaphylaxis having eaten only one slice of a pizza.
Speak Up for Allergies campaign (9 March 2022) Food Standards Agency ~ The next phase of this campaign will encourage young people to support friends with allergies when eating out and help food businesses to provide allergen information effectively.
Byron burger death: No damages payout for Owen Carey’s family (6 May 2021) BBC News ~ The family are now officially launching their campaign for ‘Owen’s Law‘, which would require clear, specific allergen labelling on every restaurant menu.
Restaurant and owner ordered to pay £80,000 in fines and costs (31 March 2021) Cornwall Council ~ Kowser Ahmed Ali and Dada Spice Ltd, trading as Blue Moon, Fore Street, Saltash, admitted multiple offences regarding food safety and health and safety.
New research finds allergen management by food businesses has significantly improved since new regulations came into force in 2014, but ‘there is still much to do’. (23 March 2021)
Food Standards Agency launches #SpeakUpForAllergies campaign encouraging teenagers and young adults to tell cafes and restaurants about their food allergies every time they order a meal (25 February 2021)
Hospital admissions for food induced anaphylaxis have increased from 1998 to 2018, but the case fatality rate has decreased (17 February 2021) British Medical Journal ~ In school aged children, cow’s milk is now the most common single cause of fatal anaphylaxis.
Fine for Cleator Moor takeaway owner as nuts found in ‘nut-free’ meals (14 December 2020) News & Star ~ Abdul Hai, who runs the Spice House on High Street, Cleator Moor was fined £600 and ordered to pay £500 as a contribution to costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Why food allergies are on the rise (26 October 2020) BBC Future ~ Food allergies can be extremely risky, even fatal – and they’re on the rise around the world. Why are they increasingly common, and what can we do to prevent them?
Food Standards Agency launches ‘Here to Help’ campaign to provide support and guidance to established and new food businesses responding to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic (10 August 2020)
Allergy sufferer speaks out after takeaway with nuts landed him in hospital (23 June 2020) Express & Star ~ Mohammed Badrul Islam, owner of Rosehill Balti and Takeaway in Hednesford received fines, costs, a community service order and a 20-week suspended prison sentence.
Food Standards Agency publishes updated allergen guidance to reflect changes to labelling laws (18 June 2020)
New research from Food Standards Scotland highlights the challenges facing young people with food allergies (28 February 2020)
Most hospitality employees uncertain about relaying allergen information (10 February 2020) The Caterer ~ “Less than half of hospitality employees are confident they are relaying the correct allergen information, according to new research.”
Takeaway fined £20,000 for selling a ‘nut free’ meal that contained nuts (28 January 2020) Coventry Live ~ “Trading Standards say the amount found could have led to someone dying.”
Shante Turay-Thomas: Human error factor in allergy death (13 January 2020) BBC News ~ “A teenager with a severe nut allergy died in part because of human error, a coroner has ruled.”
Croxley Green pub fined £23,000 after diner’s Christmas meal triggered severe food allergy and intensive care (10 December 2019) Hertfordshire County Council ~ “The Artichoke pub and restaurant has been prosecuted by Hertfordshire Trading Standards.”
Burger allergy death father hits out at Byron chain (14 November 2019) BBC News ~ “The father of a teenager with a dairy allergy who died after he unwittingly ate buttermilk at Byron burger has called on the company to do more.” Under ‘Owen’s Law’, businesses would be required to provide information in writing and orally.
Severe allergic reactions rise in children in England over past five years (11 November 2019) BBC News ~ “New NHS figures show that 1,746 children were treated for anaphylactic shock in 2018-19, up from 1,015 in 2013-14.”
Byron death: Restaurant unable to contact waiters who may have served allergic teenager (11 November 2019) ITV News ~ Simon Wilkinson, the CEO of Byron, gives his first television interview about the death of Owen Carey.
Allergies: Teenagers needing hospital treatment up 65% in five years (1 November 2019) BBC News ~ “In 2013-14, 2,873 teenagers sought treatment whereas in 2017-18 it was 4,743, data from NHS Digital shows.”
Dobson & Parnell restaurant fined after woman hospitalised with allergic reaction to fish curry (4 October 2019) Newcastle Chronicle ~ “The Quayside restaurant admitted breaching food safety regulations by serving a dish containing peanuts to a woman with a serious nut allergy – which could have proved fatal”
More than 1,400 UK restaurants close as casual dining crunch bites (16 September 2019) BBC News ~ “Insolvencies in year to the end of June 2019 increased by 25% – the highest since at least 2014.”
Byron burger allergy death: Owen Carey’s family demand law change (13 September 2019) BBC News ~ “The family of a teenager with a dairy allergy who died after he ate buttermilk in a burger restaurant have called for a change in the law.”
Food allergen labelling changes become law (5 September 2019) Food Standards Agency ~ A new law that extends labelling requirements for people with food allergies and intolerances will come into effect from October 2021 in England. More information is available from the FSA website.
Gove to introduce ‘Natasha’s Law’ (25 June 2019) UK Government ~ A new law will require food businesses to include full ingredients labelling on pre-packaged foods by summer 2021.
Tricks of the Restaurant Trade (17 June 2019) Channel 4 ~ “Can menus persuade us to buy more? How are restaurants catering for growing numbers of customers with allergies?”
Arundel House Hotel fined for selling unsafe food (09 May 2019) Cambridgeshire County Council ~ “A Cambridge hotel has been ordered to pay £4,400 for supplying food containing nuts to a customer known to be allergic to the ingredient, who subsequently went into anaphylactic shock.”
(8 May 2019) Food Standards Agency (FSA) ~ The FSA advises more extensive food labelling and sets out new priorities to protect food hypersensitive consumers. Download the full 30-page report [pdf]
Man with nut allergy asked by a restaurant to sign a food disclaimer form (30 April 2019) Independent ~ “The restaurant defended its policy and said it is not prepared to ‘abandon the use of nuts.”
Feeding a child with allergies (24 April 2019) Woman’s Hour Parenting Podcast ~ Paediatric dietitian Clare Thorton-Wood gives advice on how to feed a child with food allergies and shares tips and tricks for parents.
Food allergies: Key information that every child should know (27 March 2019) BBC Newsround ~ “Newsround has spoken to Amena Warner from the charity Allergy UK to get answers to the big questions about food allergies.”
Wake-up call: Prepare for changes to allergen labelling (23 March 2019) The Caterer ~ “With the spotlight recently being thrown on operators’ processes regarding allergens, Duncan Reed explains the possible changes to the law on selling prepackaged food.”
Restaurant owner fined after ‘potentially fatal levels of peanut’ found in nut-free meal (12 March 2019) The Caterer ~ “A West Midlands restaurant owner has been ordered to pay more than £3,000 after failing to meet requests for peanut-free meals.”
Beyond Today (28 January 2019) BBC Radio 4 ~ Are we getting more allergic to food and what research is being done to find out why some people have more extreme reactions than others?
We’re seeking your views on allergen labelling (25 January 2019) Food Standards Agency ~ a national consultation on the UK Government’s plans to improve allergen labelling laws for pre-packed foods. DEFRA’s website has the full consultation paper and an online survey.
Just Eat under fire over allergens found in takeaway meals (14 January 2019) The Guardian ~ “A number of restaurants listed on Just Eat have been found to sell food that could cause allergic reactions, an investigation has found.”
People with allergies say food chains are ‘running scared’ after manager advises family to eat somewhere else (12 January 2019) inews ~ “blanket allergen warnings are now common in restaurants, with at-risk customers being turned away or even asked to sign legal disclaimers.”
Restaurant fined after serving gluten-free customer garlic bread (6 December 2018) The Caterer ~ “An Italian restaurant in Greater Manchester has been fined after a customer was sold garlic bread that contained gluten despite being advertised as gluten free.”
Why the world is becoming more allergic to food – Dr Alexandra Santos, King’s College London (3 December 2018) BBC News ~ “The rise in allergies in recent decades has been particularly noticeable in the West. Food allergy now affects about 7% of children in the UK and 9% of those in Australia, for example. Across Europe, 2% of adults have food allergies.”
Allergens found in quarter of sampled foods (28 November 2018) BBC News ~ “Undeclared allergens were found in a quarter of food samples from UK businesses, figures have shown. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed 673 out of 2,862 tests since 2016 were ‘unsatisfactory’.”
Restaurant and cafe chains giving out ‘dangerous’ allergy advice (28 November 2018) BBC Watchdog Live ~ “journalists secretly filmed staff at Frankie & Benny’s, Pizza Hut, Nandos, Pizza Express, Starbucks and Costa. The journalists asked staff whether dishes contained any of the 14 major allergens. Five out of the 30 outlets visited gave the reporters incorrect information.”
Pressure mounting on operators after allergen deaths (15 October 2018) The Caterer ~ “Three allergen-related deaths have appeared in the news in the past fortnight, bringing the topic of labelling to the forefront of operators’ minds.”
Our blogs
Allergen information for distance selling ~ If you’re selling food online, through phone ordering, or any other distance method you are legally required to provide allergen information at two stages in the order process.
New guidance for providing allergen information ~ the Food Standards Agency’s new draft best practice guidance suggests that allergen information for non-prepacked foods served in pubs, cafés, restaurants and markets should, in future, be provided in writing and supported by a conversation.
Naming vegan alternatives to dairy foods ~ the challenges to producers and consumers presented by strict regulations prohibiting the use of dairy designations for plant-based foods.
Beyond the 14 regulated food allergens ~ Although the 14 ‘regulated’ food #allergens are considered to be the most common causes of allergic reactions, many other foods may trigger adverse symptoms. Find out what they are and how Menu Guide can help.
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 2.4 million adults in the UK have a clinically confirmed food allergy.
Food allergies and ‘vegan’ labelling ~ Many people choose to eat plant-based foods for a variety of reasons but, for those with food allergies, the safe haven of vegan-labelled products may not be as secure as it seems.
Food allergens and the law ~ If you run a food business in the UK, you must comply with the relevant legislation. Here’s a quick guide to help you meet current legal requirements.
Primary Authority ~ Menu Guide is in a Primary Authority Partnership with Milton Keynes Council. Find out what this means and how it might be relevant to your next EHO visit.
Top tips for allergen control ~ Guest blog by Melissa Thompson, Chartered Environmental Health Officer and Director of Safer Food Scores
QR codes ~ Once denigrated as ‘ugly, overused and doomed’, Quick Response (QR) codes are proving to be a very useful tool for the hospitality industry.
Working towards carbon net zero ~ In this updated post, we report on key organisations at the forefront of the movement towards carbon net zero and Menu Guide’s role in supporting sustainable hospitality.
Food and You – FSA Consumer Survey ~ Research published in August 2022 by the Food Standards Agency has provided updated statistics on food allergies, intolerances and other hypersensitivities.
Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) ~ Key findings from the Food Standard’s Agency’s ‘may contain’ consultation, which Menu Guide responded to, along with a range of key stakeholders.
Mandatory calorie labelling on menus ~ From April 2022, large food businesses in England will be required to display the calorie information of non-prepacked food and soft drink items.
Ethics and allergens ~ Find out how some of the food businesses using Menu Guide for allergen management have ethical practices at the heart of their operations.
Menu Guide wins national award ~ Menu Guide won the ‘Innovation and Technical’ category at the UK Government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Regulatory Excellence Awards 2021.
Preparing for Natasha’s Law ~ Find out how Menu Guide can help you meet the requirements of The UK Food Information Amendment, which comes into effect from 1 October 2021.
Allergen management for takeaway food ~ If you are offering takeaway or delivery, read our helpful guide to providing additional allergen information.
QR Code menu table talkers now available ~ Instantly download an attractive table talker/table tent complete with your QR code when you add your menu to Menu Guide
New year, new functions in Menu Guide ~ To help you have a successful 2020, we’ve developed four new functions that make Menu Guide even easier to use.
Easy to ask? ~ According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) ‘It’s #easytoASK about allergens’. But how easy is it? And who should be asking?
Top tips for marketing your food business ~ Hospitality is a very challenging industry where competition is fierce and margins are tight, so get ahead with some clever marketing.
Should calories be on the menu? ~ As new research suggests that mandatory labelling has the potential to improve the nutritional profile of food, opinions are divided.
Is Menu Guide a mobile app? ~ The simple answer is ‘no, because it doesn’t need to be and it’s better that way’ – find out why.
Looking for new customers? Vegans may not be the (only) answer… ~ Recent research shows a large gap in the market for savvy restaurant and cafe owners.