Allergens Awareness Week – Reminder To Businesses

Carmarthenshire’s Trading Standards team have been reminding local businesses on new laws regarding food allergens as part of Allergens Awareness Week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

New legislation governing the way businesses label meals and takeaways came into force in December, putting a legal duty on anyone providing or selling food to inform customers about allergenic ingredients. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Food Information Regulation 2014 includes any meals provided at cafes and restaurants, or pre-prepared or packaged loose food including bread rolls, sandwiches, cakes and deli products. It also covers catering in establishments such as schools, hospitals and care homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The regulation lists 14 allergens that must be clearly identified to their customers in a variety of ways – on a menu, chalkboard or an information pack, and if sold over the phone either orally or in writing when the food is collected or delivered to the customer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It was introduced to offer more protection to people who suffer allergic reactions to certain foods, reactions that could be so severe it could lead to serious illness or even death. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Just last week, a restaurant owner was jailed for six years for the manslaughter of a customer who had an allergic reaction to a curry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mohammed Zaman, 52, was found guilty at Teesside Crown Court after the court heard he cut corners by using cheaper ingredients containing peanuts – a decision which cost the life of his customer Paul Wilson, who suffered fatal anaphylactic shock after eating the takeaway which contained peanuts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards wrote to, and worked with, over 1,100 local food establishments advising them of the new legislation and offering advice before the legislation came into force. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They have since been test sampling at restaurants and takeaways, and whilst one local restaurateur has been prosecuted for breaking the law, and advice being offered to some, the majority have been trading responsibly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “We have been really impressed with local food traders who have taken on-board this major change to the food industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have been pleased to work with them to offer advice before the law came into force, and more recently to test sample a variety of products, partly funded by the Food Standards Agency in Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​