Skip to main content

Banner Alert Image  Haringey, Here to Help: Support with money, benefits, and debt

Home – Haringey London Council logo

Login/Register

Search form

Sign in

  • Services for residents
  • Pay, report, apply
  • Business information
  • Local democracy
  • Services for residents
  • Pay, report, apply
  • Business information
  • Local democracy
  • Home
  • Business
    • Regulation, Standards and Environment
      • Health and Safety
        • Food Safety
          • Food Labelling Regulations
            • Allergen labelling laws for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods
Home » Business » Regulation, Standards and Environment » Health and Safety » Food Safety

New Food Labelling Regulations

  • Food allergies can be fatal
  • Key message to food businesses
  • What is your responsibility as a food business
  • Key messages for consumers
  • External links
  • Online training

Food allergies can be fatal

People with allergies can have a reaction called anaphylaxis (pronounced anna-fill-axis), which can be fatal if it isn't treated immediately, usually with an injection of adrenaline (epinephrine).

Research tells us that consumers suffering from food allergies currently have low levels of confidence in eating out and purchasing food because of a lack of information - see the FSA quick guide to food allergies and intolerances (PDF, 411KB).

The Food Information for Consumers Regulation (FIC) came into force in December 2014.

The regulations require:

  • 14 specific allergens (PDF, 210KB) to be emphasised in the ingredients list of prepacked foods using at least one of the following formats:
    • italics
    • bold
    • underlined
    • colour
  • Information on these 14 allergens, when used as ingredients, must also be provided on loose (non-prepacked) foods, in an obvious place, for example on a:
    • menu
    • chalkboard
    • recipe card or allergy folder

This means food businesses have to label, display and provide allergen ingredients information correctly.

Consumers will see how allergens are presented on labels of prepacked food and can also ask for information on any of the specific allergens in non-prepacked food that they buy.

  • Food businesses are required to comply with the requirements

It is important that anyone handling or preparing food, in any context:

  • is fully aware of the foods that may trigger an allergic reaction, and
  • knows what precautions need to be taken to ensure that customers do not eat a food that they are trying to avoid

  • Try the Interactive Sandwich Shop (external link)

Back to top


Key message to food businesses

  • It is a legal requirement for food businesses to comply with the EU FIC
  • Applies to all food suppliers, wholesalers and manufacturers
  • Includes all small and medium businesses that:
    • make, provide or sell prepacked food
    • make, serve or sell non-packaged (loose) food
  • By complying with the EU FIC rules, you give your customers confidence and assurance about the information you are providing, which could improve your business, as safer food means better business
  • Haringey’s food and safety team in collaboration with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and other external training companies are able to support food businesses to comply with the new requirements

Food businesses that fail to comply with these Regulations face a sliding scale of sanctions from Food Safety Officers. This will range from further advice to formal enforcement action with fines up to a maximum £5000.

Back to top


What is your responsibility as a food business

Remember these key messages when dealing with dietary requests such as food allergies:

  • Make sure the information you provide is complete and accurate
    • Identify if any of the 14 specific allergens (PDF, 210KB) are included as ingredients by using the FSA Chef’s Allergen Menu Chart (PDF, 157KB)
  • Keep up to date ingredient information on all foods and ingredients
  • Consider the risk of cross-contamination when preparing food:
    • Are any specific allergens in your ingredients?
    • consider cooking oils, dressings, toppings, sauces and garnishes etc.
    • update allergen information if you change the recipe or the ingredients used
    • ensure work surfaces and equipment are thoroughly cleaned before use and after using any specific allergens
    • Always wash your hands before preparing any food and after handling specific allergens
  • Make sure your staff are allergen aware:
    • Establish a procedure for dealing with allergen information requests, and
    • Ensure your staff are aware of this procedure
    • Ensure your staff are aware of any changes to recipes (eg addition or substitution of ingredients)

Back to top


Key message for consumers

  • The EU FIC enables you to make a safe and informed choice about what to eat when eating out or what to buy when you shop for food
  • You can ask for ingredients information on any of the 14 specific allergens (PDF, 210KB) in the food and, if it is not provided, you can take action by contacting us with the details
  • You can feel more confident eating out and purchasing food
  • Haringey Council and the FSA have information to explain the changes that the new regulation will bring, and what they will mean for you

Back to top


External links

Allergy charities

  • Allergy UK (external link)
  • Anaphylaxis Campaign (external link)
  • Coeliac UK (external link)

Relevant Legislation

  • The EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation - No 1169-2011 (PDF, 1MB)
  • Food Information Regulations 2014 (PDF, 1MB)

Relevant guidance

  • Food-allergen labelling: Technical Guidance (PDF, 284KB)
  • Q & A on FIC allergen provision (PDF, 382KB)
  • Factsheet: Changes to food allergen information rules (PDF, 259KB)
  • Chef’s Allergen Menu Chart - A3 (PDF, 582KB)
  • Recipe sheets (Word, 134KB)
  • FSA toolkit – FSA Website (external link)
  • Safer Food Better Business - FSA Website (external link)
  • The Food Standards Agency (FSA) Allergy leaflets (PDF, 340KB)

Back to top


Online training

  • FSA Allergen Training Online - (external link)
  • FSA Food labelling e-learning course (external link)

Back to top


 

Page last updated:

May 6, 2022

Tell us what you think about this page

Problem with a service?
If you have a service problem or complaint you need help with then please visit our contact pages.


Help us improve this page
If you want to make comments specifically about this page, then please answer the questions below.

* = response required

Ease of use

Overall, how easy was it to get the help you wanted today?

Service required

What was the main service you were interested in today?

Purpose of visit

What was your main purpose for coming to the website today?

Covid-19

Did you visit the website for information related to COVID-19?
Did you find what you were looking for? (optional)

Device and browser information

It will help us understand any problems if you can tell us a bit about what you are using to browse the website:

Which type of device are you using right now? (optional)
Which browser are you using? (optional)

Your comments

Please use the following space to tell us more about your visit today. 

Please note that if you want to report a problem with a council service or have a general service request, you will need to contact Customer Services directly.

Advertising

Our advertising policy

  • Home
  • Business
    • Regulation, Standards and Environment
      • Health and Safety
        • Food Safety
          • Food Labelling Regulations
            • Allergen labelling laws for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods

A to Z Directory of Haringey Council Services

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z

Ways of keeping in touch with us

Contact us

For non-urgent queries you can use our online contact form.

Have your say

Help us make sure we’re achieving our aims and tell us what you think.

Mobile apps

Useful and convenient council services in the palm of your hand.

Email alerts

Tell us what you're interested in and receive updates direct to your inbox.

Twitter

Get the latest important announcements as they happen.

Facebook

Be part of the Haringey community online as well as off.

Instagram

A space to celebrate the great things in our borough.

YouTube

See and hear about Haringey issues and news on our very own YouTube channel.

  • Accessibility
  • Translation services
  • About this site
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Cookies

This site is © Copyright Haringey Council