On 3 October, the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) launched a consultation to seek feedback on proposed best practice guidance for the communication of mandatory allergen information for non-prepacked food. This includes non-prepacked foods such as those sold in cafés and restaurants or drinks made to order.
The consultation closes on 27 November and our GF Accreditation scheme partners are invited to respond.
At the end of the consultation period the FSA will collate and publish the responses prior to publishing the best practice guidance in early 2025.
The draft guidance, which will apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, covers the interpretation and application of mandatory allergen provisions and does not include any legislative change.
It addresses how to provide allergen information in the most effective way and manner preferred by the consumers in writing and supported by a conversation.
The legislative basis is assimilated Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on the food information to consumers where the provision of allergen information is contained.
Key areas covered by the draft guidance:
- Providing written allergen information: where to display it and how to present it, use of words and/or use of symbols with accompanying words; on-request vs presenting it upfront; digital and paper format; distant-selling and pre-ordering
- Voluntary information: this includes “free from allergen” information and precautionary allergen labelling and links back to the revised FSA technical guidance published last year.
- Staff training
- Having a conversation about allergens (new aspect)
- Using the information provided by consumers
The consultation questions aim to gather feedback on how food business operators communicate mandatory allergen information to customers (written, verbal, digital, other); on the recommendations in the best practice guidance and any possible challenge for the business.
Coeliac UK will submit a response to the consultation in the coming weeks considering feedback received by members of our community over the past months.
For more information on the consultation, click here and to submit your response, click here.