Reminder for food businesses in West Sussex to provide allergy information

Food businesses in West Sussex are being reminded to continue providing allergy information for consumers eating out by Trading Standards.
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Since 2014 all food outlets must either explain to customers, or supply, allergy information about the foods they sell.

The change makes it safer for people with food intolerances to eat out.

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West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards team has worked with local businesses and run training sessions about the new laws.

To mark Allergy Awareness Week 2016, Trading Standards repeated the need for food outlets to provide correct allergen information so consumers stay safe.

Peter Aston, Trading Standards manager, said: “There is no cure for food allergies or intolerances, so the only way for people to manage the condition is to avoid the food that makes them ill.

“That is why providing accurate food allergen labelling and information is so important.

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“We have been working with local food businesses since the new rules came in and providing training sessions.

“However there is more work to be done and more improvements businesses can make.”

He added: “The complaints we receive relating to allergen information mostly relate to restaurants and takeaways where staff can sometimes be unaware of meal ingredients.

“In these situations we visit to make sure proper systems are put in place to train staff how to respond to requests for allergen information.

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“We continue to work with businesses to ensure they comply with the law.”

Consumers need to be informed of the following allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, cereals containing gluten, eggs, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, soya, sesame, sulpher dioxide/sulphites, celery, mustard, and lupin.

Anyone who has experienced problems getting correct allergen information from any food outlet can visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/tsreport or call Trading Standards on 03454 040506.

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