Food Standard Agency
Below you will useful links from the Food Standards Website to help you locate the resources needed to ensure your business is allergy aware compliant.
The Food Standard Agency (FSA) was established in 2000. It is an independent government department working to protect public health and consumers’ wider interests in food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are responsible for the systems that regulate food businesses.
There is also Food Standards Scotland (FSS) which was established in 2015 and is a Scottish Administration that works alongside the Scottish government, to create a food and drink environment in Scotland that benefits, protects and is trusted by consumers.
If you know of any other sites we have missed please email us at Marketing@fatc.co.uk.
Regulations
Food Information Regulations 1169/2011
Here is a link to the Food Information Regulations(FIR) found on the GOV.UK website.
Here is a link to the labelling guidance following the FIR being published.
Here is a link to the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) found on the GOV.UK website.
Here is the FSA Guidance in the PDF format.
Food Safety Management
Food business operators must ensure that food handlers must receive the appropriate supervision and training in food hygiene and safety. The FSA have guidance on managing food safety and also details the types of courses and certificates available.
Here is the link about FSA’s Online food safety training.
Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) is the FSA guidance on food safety management procedures and food hygiene regulations for small businesses and caterers.
The specific Allergen SFBB insert can be access by clicking here
You can find out guidance about Hygiene and Allergy Advice for takeaways and food delivery businesses here.
PPDS Regulations
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/prepacked-for-direct-sale-ppds-allergen-labelling-changes-for-restaurants-cafes-and-pubsIn 2019 new regulations were agreed upon regarding allergen labelling for pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) foods. These regulations come into force on 1st October 2021.
Here is the PPDS Guidance from the FSA with all the details food businesses need to know regarding these new regulations.
Here is the FSA’s guidance on Allergen Information for Loose Foods published in 2017 (Updated 2023).
Here is the FSA PPDS guidance for Prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) allergen labelling changes for restaurants, cafés and pubs – click here
FSA webinar on PPDS August 2021 – Click here
For sector specific guidance click on the following links:
Food Allergen Resources
Templates & Signs
Here are some useful links for various templates and signage for use regarding Allergens.
FSA Training & Guidance
The FSA has published useful Allergen Guidance for Food Businesses and has a useful checklist for those businesses in regards to being up to date and compliant.
There is also guidance on Allergy Training from the FSA.
With the new regulations regarding PPDS coming into force on 1st October 2021 the FSA can provide Labelling Training.
For food manufacturers the FSA have provided guidance on Allergen Labelling for Food Manufacturers.
THE FSA also has an online training ‘An Introduction to Root Cause Analysis Course‘ There are two versions one for Enforcement Officers and one for Food Businesses – If you are serious about understanding and eliminating near misses in your business this course is for you.
Allergens & Local Authority Q & A
This Question and Answer (Q&A) document provides local authorities (LA) with guidance on the enforcement of allergen controls in food business establishments. The focus of the document is on the catering and retail sectors, rather than manufacturing. It is not intended to be an exhaustive document, but to address some of the key questions that have been raised with the FSA.
Food Allergen Resource
Chartered Trading Standards Institute
The Greater Gwent Food Group has released a new multilingual allergen resource for food businesses to access in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This resource is intended to help protect the estimated 2 million people living with a food allergy in the UK.
The allergen awareness presentation video in English, Welsh, Bengali, Cantonese, Kurdish, Mandarin, Punjabi, Turkish and Urdu.
The resources are freely available for use by all local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
FSA Allergen Checklist
You and your staff have an important role in protecting people with food allergies. How you respond matters. Speak up for allergies.
There are specific allergen labelling and information requirements food businesses must meet if they operate in the UK. This checklist provides tips on how your business can meet those requirements.
Following this checklist will help your business to provide safe meals for customers with food allergy or intolerance. It is recommended that this checklist is shared with staff and managers.
Campaigns
Speak Up for Allergies
The Food Standards Agency has launched a campaign (24th February 2021) advising young adults to speak up about their food allergies every time they order a takeaway.
Research shows that children and young people are at higher risk of experiencing food allergy reactions. Although these are being generally managed well there is evidence to suggest they are less likely to tell a cafe or restaurant about their allergy, particularly if they have eaten there before.
You can find out more about the FSA campaign here.
