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New industry data reveals gaps in allergen management across UK hospitality venues.
For the estimated 2.4 million UK adults living with a food allergy, eating out often relies on one thing: trust.
New industry data suggests that allergen information provided by hospitality businesses isn’t always as clear, accurate or up to date as customers might expect.
The findings, published in the latest Safe to Trade Data Insights report, reveal a number of cases where allergen information was either missing, inaccurate or not clearly communicated to customers during independent audits of hospitality businesses across the UK.
Since January 2023, auditors have recorded 765 allergen-related issues, highlighting the challenges businesses can face when managing allergen information in busy kitchen and service environments. With the hospitality industry continuing to face ongoing struggles with overhead costs, and labour shortages as a result, Safe to Trade is taking action to support operators, ensuring they are in a better position to provide reassurance for customers.
Common serious issues identified included incorrect allergen information being provided to customers, allergen information not being clearly signposted for customers, information that was incomplete or not regularly reviewed, and lack of detail about specific allergens, such as the type of nut used or gluten-containing ingredients. In some cases allergens were found to be present in food but not declared.
While allergen management was not the most common issue identified during audits, it remains one of the most serious due to the potential consequences for customers with food allergies.
Alec Kyriakides, Independent Food Safety Consultant and Chair of the Safe to Trade Technical Standards Committee, said: “For people living with food allergies, accurate allergen information is essential. While allergen-related issues are not the most common findings during audits, they can have serious consequences when mistakes occur.” “The data shows that many of the challenges relate to maintaining accurate and detailed information, and ensuring it is applied consistently in day-to-day operations. In busy hospitality environments, that can be difficult, which is why clear communication between businesses and customers remains so important.”
Safe to Trade is the UK’s first voluntary third-party assurance programme for the hospitality sector. Restaurants displaying the Safe to Trade badge have undergone independent, unannounced audits carried out by qualified environmental health practitioners, verifying standards around allergen management, staff training and ongoing food safety processes.
For consumers, this new data serves as a reminder to take an active role when dining out and recommends that people with allergies should always tell staff about their allergy before ordering, clearly explaining the severity of the allergy. However when dining at a venue that is verified as Safe to Trade, operators have added value and customers can dine out with reassurance, knowing that staff are fully informed on allergen management processes and menu items.
Consumers looking for additional reassurance can also search for venues that have been independently assessed through the Safe to Trade programme here.
Notes to editors: The full Safe to Trade Data Insights article is available here.
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