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Dining out with a food allergy can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to. This guide explores how the Safe to Trade Standard is helping make eating out safer and more inclusive for everyone.
Dr Hazel Gowland is one of the UK’s leading voices on food allergy management – researcher, university lecturer, and advocate whose work has shaped allergen awareness and safety practices across the country. She brings both professional expertise and personal insight as someone living with food hypersensitivity, and has been chatting to us about how Safe to Trade supports food businesses (and their customers) with food safety standards when it comes to allergens.
If you or someone you love manages food allergies, here’s what you need to know before your next meal out — and how Safe to Trade can help.
With more than two million people in the UK affected by food allergies, eating out can bring anxiety as well as appetite. Ingredient substitutions, unclear menu labelling, or accidental cross-contact can turn an everyday experience into a health emergency.
Dr Hazel Gowland reminds us that allergen management isn’t static, it evolves constantly with every menu change, recipe tweak, or supplier update. “The Safe to Trade Standard,” she explains, “is designed to help food businesses minimise allergen risks and align with the latest UK food safety regulations.”
When you see the Safe to Trade logo, it’s more than a badge, it’s a visible promise.
Businesses displaying the Safe to Trade logo have been independently verified for strong food safety and allergen management practices. As part of this process, auditors review how allergen information is managed, from menus and signage to staff awareness and communication.
The Safe to Trade Standard also recognises the importance of everyday hygiene measures, such as correct ingredient storage, handwashing, and clean equipment, which help prevent cross-contamination and keep diners safe.
The result? Greater assurance that your meal is being prepared with care and consistency.
You can check Safe to Trade-approved venues here
If you’ve ever hesitated before telling a server about your allergy, you’re not alone.
Dr Gowland says that clear communication between customers and staff is one of the strongest lines of defence against allergic reactions.
Many responsible venues now:
When businesses follow these steps, it sends a clear message: your health is a priority, not an inconvenience.
Even the best systems can face challenges, a misheard order, a recipe change, or accidental cross-contact. What matters most is how the situation is handled.
Dr Gowland advises that any incident should trigger an immediate, transparent review. Once the customer is safe, the team should identify what happened, correct the issue, and share lessons across the business. This open, no-blame approach builds a stronger safety culture and helps restore your trust, as the customer.
Dr Gowland also highlights the importance of ongoing awareness. Food safety doesn’t end once a venue is accredited, it’s a daily commitment.
She encourages food businesses to stay up to date with allergen alerts and product recalls issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), and to learn from trusted organisations such as Anaphylaxis UK and Coeliac UK.
For diners, that means looking for venues that show visible signs of training, care, and accountability, and choosing places that welcome questions.
The Safe to Trade Standard exists so that customers can dine out safely. When you see the Safe to Trade logo, you can trust that the business has undergone independent checks to verify allergen, hygiene, and safety standards.
You can also search the Safe to Trade Register to find approved venues near you
Because confidence isn’t just about the food on your plate, it’s about knowing that the people behind it care.
