Love Safe Food webinar: Allergy Awareness Week: Allergen Safety Panel

Hosted by:  Kelvin Wood, Certification Body Manager for Safe to Trade at Shield Safety Group

Joined by: Allergy advocate Caroline Benjamin, Founder of Food Allergy Aware; Food safety expert and Strategic Advisor to Shield Safety,  Sterling Crew; and consumer voice Mia Horton – someone who has experience of severe airborne allergies.

Overview 

In this webinar, host Kelvin Wood leads a discussion about allergen awareness focusing on the challenges, responsibilities, and innovations surrounding allergen safety in the hospitality sector. Joined by expert guests Caroline Benjamin from Food Allergy Aware and consumer advocate Mia Horton, the session offers looks at how food businesses can better protect vulnerable customers and improve allergen management.

Navigating Food Allergies in Hospitality

The central theme of the webinar is the growing importance of allergen awareness and control in food service environments. With food allergies affecting up to 10% of the population, the panel explores how businesses can move beyond basic compliance to create safer, more inclusive dining experiences. The conversation highlights the emotional, operational, and regulatory dimensions of allergen safety.

Key Insights from the Webinar
Viewers will gain valuable knowledge on:

• Consumer Impact: Mia Horton shares her lived experience with severe airborne nut allergies, revealing the anxiety and social limitations that come with dining out. Her story underscores the importance of clear allergen information, confident staff communication, and thoughtful menu design.
• Business Practice: The need for food businesses to publish allergen policies online, train staff in empathetic communication, and offer flexible dining arrangements. 
• Scientific Developments: How emerging innovation and technologies such as AI-driven allergen detection, paper-based microfluidic testing, and immunotherapy treatments promise to transform how allergens are identified and managed in real time.
• Regulatory Gaps: The limitations of current legislation, which mandates labelling for only 14 allergens despite over 60 being recognised globally. 

Expert Perspective
The webinar blends regulatory, scientific, and consumer viewpoints from experts across the board. Sterling Crew brings decades of food safety expertise, Caroline Benjamin offers practical consultancy insights, and Mia Horton provides a powerful personal narrative that humanises the issue. Together, they highlight how Safe to Trade’s third-party assurance scheme strengthens allergen safety through annual audits, evidence verification, and public accountability.

Who Should Watch
This webinar is essential for:

• Food Business Operators: Looking to improve allergen safety, reduce risk, and build customer trust.
• Hospitality Professionals: Seeking practical training and policy guidance.
• Regulators and Auditors: Interested in third-party assurance schemes and data-driven oversight.
• Consumers and Advocates: Passionate about safer, more inclusive dining environments.

Watch the Full Webinar
Watch the full webinar to hear real-life experiences, expert insights, and practical strategies for improving allergen safety in hospitality. It’s essential viewing for anyone committed to safer, more inclusive dining.