Eating out is a common source of anxiety for people with food allergies.
The Food Standards Agency advice (base on EU law) is here.
The same 14 allergens get special treatment as in the Food labelling law.
A food business (café, restaurant etc) has to be able to supply information about any food they sell which contains one of those allergens. It does not necessarily have to be printed on a menu, or on a label however (see Food Labelling). A restaurant can simply display a sign saying “Before ordering, please talk to our staff if you have allergies or an intolerance” or similar. But they do have to be able to give you the necessary information, and that information must have some basis in fact (it must be “verifiable, correct and consistent”) – they can’t just say “None of our food is suitable” or “This dish might have nuts in it”.
Restaurant staff should have training from their very first day in dealing with allergies, knowing how to avoid cross contamination etc. There is free online training available.
Of course, the person taking your order or your money may not be the best person to ask – if possible talk to a manager, or even better, the chef!
Here are some tips:
People often assume the best way to stay safe is to eat at the same place, and eat the same thing, but this is not necessarily the case. Recipes change, chefs change… And in any case, why restrict yourself?
Phone a place ahead of time to discuss your requirements. Choose a time they are likely to be quiet and able to talk without rushing.
Ask what things are suitable and what things are not suitable for your allergy.
Ask if there’s a risk of cross contamination e.g. is the same deep-frier used for everything deep fried?
Ask the waiter to make a note on their pad of your allergy (some people suggest giving them a different piece of paper to write on, that is clearly different from the usual orders!)
When the food comes, confirm that this is the dish OK for your allergy, before you eat it.
If staff seem unsure, or unfriendly, or if you feel uncomfortable, it may be better to leave. Tell them politely that you are unable to eat there.
Make sure you have your allergy medicine(s) and plan with you.
If you have a reaction, follow your plan. DO NOT GO ALONE outside or to the toilet.
“Guaranteeing” that a meal is allergen free – parents shouldn’t ask for this, and businesses shouldn’t confuse “can’t guarantee” with their legal duty to prepare food safely.
You could ask for your meal to be brought separately from everyone else’s.
Some restaurants’ online menus – such as Carluccio’s and Zizzi – allow customers to filter out foods by their allergy, which helps them make an informed choice about what they might eat. For other restaurants, interactive allergen menu apps like Menu Guide can help
Disclaimers – some restaurants are asking allergic people to sign these. They have no legal basis – whether you sign or not, they still have a legal duty to prepare food safely, or to tell you if they feel they cannot provide you with a safe meal because of there is a real risk that they cannot reduce.
Buffet
Buffet – allergen information has to be provided for each food item separately rather than for the buffet as a whole.
Take away food
Allergy information must be made available at the time you phone or order online, before you pay.
The person delivering is not the person responsible for giving you information, there should be a sticker on the box, or a copy of the menu if this includes allergen information, but you should be able to get more information over the phone.
If ordering for several people, make sure the restaurant labels your meal, so you know which order is safe for you.
Anaphylaxis UK have developed a helpful page for ordering takeaway food, click here for more information
If you have a reaction, follow your allergy plan. Then contact the restaurant to find out what might have gone wrong. Report the incident if you think the business was at fault (it may be worth freezing the food you were served, in case there is an investigation) – https://www.food.gov.uk/contactconsumersreport-problem/report-poor-food-safety-and-hygiene-practices