Advanced Allergen Awareness

Food hypersensitivity refers to adverse reactions that some individuals experience when consuming certain foods that are otherwise safe for the general population. This includes food allergies, food intolerances, and coeliac disease.

This module outlines the responsibilities of Food Business Operators (FBOs) in ensuring accurate allergen information is provided to consumers.

Effective allergen management in a food manufacturing environment requires careful consideration of multiple factors.

The method of providing allergen information varies depending on whether the food is prepacked or non-prepacked.

This module covers allergen management in a catering environment and the responsibilities of Food Business Operators (FBOs) when serving customers with food allergies, intolerances, or coeliac disease.

This module will cover the guidelines for voluntary allergen labelling, applicable to both prepacked and non-prepacked food.

Any voluntary food information provided must comply with the requirements set out in Chapter V (‘Voluntary Food Information’), Article 36 of the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation No. 1169/2011 (EU FIC).

Background: Why Was Natasha’s Law Introduced?

Natasha’s Law is named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a 15-year-old who tragically passed away in 2016 after suffering an allergic reaction to undeclared sesame seeds in a baguette. The lack of labeling meant she had no way of knowing the food contained allergens.

Following a campaign led by Natasha’s family, the UK government implemented this law to enhance food safety and allergen transparency.