In the UK, food businesses must provide information about any of 14 major allergens when they are used as ingredients in the food and drink they provide. The way the information is communicated to the customer depends on what kind of business they are (e.g. retail or catering), and how the food is presented. The rules differ depending on whether the food they sell is:
- Prepacked (for example, labelled food sold at retail)
- Non-prepacked/loose food (for example food sold in restaurants and takeaways, or packed at the customer’s request, such as at in-store bakery and delicatessen counters).
- Prepacked for direct sale (for example, sandwiches prepared and wrapped on-site in a cafe)
All food for sale is covered under the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011, commonly known as EU FIC Regulation. This EU legislation has been implemented into UK law, via the Food Information Regulations 2014.
Click on the images below to read more about each allergen.
For more information, contact our helpline on 01252 542029 or email [email protected]