New labels from the Food Standards Agency could save lives

15th May 2019

New labels from the Food Standards Agency could save lives

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been tightening the rules and regulations on listing ingredients for a while. After a few preventable deaths, notably Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died after eating a sandwich from Pret A Manger, the FSA is now calling on food outlets to provide thorough ingredient labels.

As it stands, food prepared and sold on-site doesn’t legally require warning labels about any potential allergens. Instead, it’s down to those purchasing the food to ask staff. The flaws in this process are clear, and can ultimately lead to deaths. What if the staff members knowledge is lacking? What if the sellers don’t note any cross-contamination? The what-ifs go on, but hopefully they will soon be put to rest.

Recently, the FSA discussed options to tackle this problem including promoting best practice in the food industry and introducing mandatory labels listing the 14 major allergens. This includes nuts, eggs, and milk. However, it’s the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs who will have the final say over this.

Is this plausible?

While there have been small amounts of opposition from businesses worried about the costs and resources involved in such a scheme, this mostly stems from misunderstanding.

The FSA chairwoman Heather Hancock said, “We are not talking about every fresh sandwich being made in a sandwich shop.”

It’s more plausible that the regulations will be for pre-packaged foods rather than each sandwich you may get at a subway for example, whose list of allergen should already be made available. The aim is to make eating a risk-free experience for people with allergies.

Ultimately, this issue threatens the lives of allergy sufferers across the UK, so we need to do something soon. How the government will implement these life-saving changes is yet to be determined but we have high hopes for positive changes coming our way.

If you have symptoms you can’t explain, you may have an allergy. Finding out has never been easier. Just book an appointment with one of our consultants, and they can test you for over 100 allergies at once.

Eating out with allergies – are you safe?

9th October 2018

Eating out with allergies – are you safe?

Everyone loves going to a restaurant to celebrate a birthday, a promotion, or a Wednesday. There are countless options covering cuisines from around the world. It’s a veritable treat for the senses.

For those without allergies, it’s difficult to imagine what it must be like to always read ingredient lists or request dietary menus. It’s hard work, and unfortunately, even if you take these preventive measures, it won’t always help.

What’s the danger?

This is a topic you may well have read about in the national news. A teenage girl died after eating an ‘artisan’ baguette from Pret A Manger. Even though she took careful consideration to check the label, it didn’t say that it contained sesame seeds.

Pret’s lack of labelling caused the individual to go into cardiac arrest on a flight to Nice and sadly pass away. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Pret products have led to allergic reactions. Several cases have been reported as far back as 2012. Allergic reactions often lead to hospitalisation. And it’s not just Pret. Another individual passed away after eating at Wagamama as once again, sesame was not listed on the menu. It can sound scary for a parent, but just because you have an allergy doesn’t mean you can’t dine out.

What can you do?

You probably don’t want to cook at home all the time – and you shouldn’t have to. So, what can you do to ease your anxiety of eating out?

A must is to check the labels and ingredient lists or menus. It’s worth requesting additional nutritional information if it’s not listed on packaging or menus. Some places, like Pret for example, include more nutritional information on their website instead of in store. Here are some other precautions you should take:

• Read reviews of different restaurants. See if you can find any reviews specific to customers with allergies. For larger chain restaurants, including Pret A Manger, Buyagift has an easy-to-use reference guide.
• Some cuisines are likely to contain certain allergens than others. For example, staple ingredients of Italian food include wheat and gluten. East Asian cuisine uses a lot of nuts
• Be prepared for the worst. Pack EpiPens or other equipment you might need.
• Just ask. Don’t be afraid to talk to the manager about your allergies and ask if any specific ingredients are used. If it makes you feel better, call ahead before your visit.

The future

There are already stringent guidelines in place for restaurants and cafes to follow, so most locations should be above board. The parents of the teenage girl are pushing for stricter guidelines, so eating out for someone with allergies should become even easier.

The odds are high that you know someone with an allergy; maybe someone in your family. You may have one without even realising. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so why not get yourself tested for food allergies. You might thank yourself later.

Find out if you or your child has allergies through our allergy testing services for peace of mind when eating out. Request a home test kit or book an appointment with one of our consultants today to find out more.

*All statistics referenced in this article are taken from here.