Food allergies can cause unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening symptoms. The only way to manage a food allergy is to completely avoid foods containing the allergen that triggers a reaction.
Food businesses must:
- provide allergen information to the consumer for both prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink
- manage food allergens effectively when preparing and serving food and drink
Unlike bacteria, food allergens cannot be removed by cooking at high temperatures. This is why it’s essential to practise good kitchen hygiene, as well as careful separation, storage and labelling of ingredients when preparing food. Effective cleaning is one of the most important strategies for preventing cross-contact of food allergens.
Failure by a food business to follow allergen requirements, such as serving someone food to which they are allergic, can cause serious harm to the consumer, and could have reputational, financial and potentially criminal ramifications for the business.