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| Food allergy laws enforced in restaurants and takeaways | Food allergy laws enforced in restaurants and takeaways |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Restaurants and takeaways in the UK will be required by law to tell customers if their food contains ingredients known to trigger allergies. | Restaurants and takeaways in the UK will be required by law to tell customers if their food contains ingredients known to trigger allergies. |
| Staff must provide information on 14 everyday allergens including nuts, milk, celery, gluten, soya and wheat. | Staff must provide information on 14 everyday allergens including nuts, milk, celery, gluten, soya and wheat. |
| The new measures, which come into force on Saturday, cover meals served in bakeries, cafes, care homes and packaged produce sold by supermarkets. | The new measures, which come into force on Saturday, cover meals served in bakeries, cafes, care homes and packaged produce sold by supermarkets. |
| There may be fines for repeat offenders. | There may be fines for repeat offenders. |
| Around two million people suffer from allergies in the UK. | Around two million people suffer from allergies in the UK. |
| Fatal reactions | Fatal reactions |
| About five thousand people need treatment in hospital for severe allergic reactions each year, and some cases are fatal - causing an average of 10 deaths annually. | About five thousand people need treatment in hospital for severe allergic reactions each year, and some cases are fatal - causing an average of 10 deaths annually. |
| Experts say the majority of these deaths and visits to hospital are avoidable, and some are a result of people being given incorrect information about ingredients. | Experts say the majority of these deaths and visits to hospital are avoidable, and some are a result of people being given incorrect information about ingredients. |
| Under the new legislation (EU FIC Food Information for Consumers Regulation), customers must be told if their food contains any of the following: | Under the new legislation (EU FIC Food Information for Consumers Regulation), customers must be told if their food contains any of the following: |
| 'Real problem' | 'Real problem' |
| Oliver Bolland, 30, from Hertfordshire, is allergic to eggs, fish, shellfish, molluscs and soya. | Oliver Bolland, 30, from Hertfordshire, is allergic to eggs, fish, shellfish, molluscs and soya. |
| He said: "My allergies really became a problem when I became an adult - I can't just pop out for a meal with my girlfriend, friends or family. | He said: "My allergies really became a problem when I became an adult - I can't just pop out for a meal with my girlfriend, friends or family. |
| "I had six allergic reactions in the course of a month last year and each time it was because I was told it was fine to eat something that it later turned out I couldn't. | "I had six allergic reactions in the course of a month last year and each time it was because I was told it was fine to eat something that it later turned out I couldn't. |
| "Often, waiters don't take my allergies seriously, or they don't know what ingredients are in their dishes. | "Often, waiters don't take my allergies seriously, or they don't know what ingredients are in their dishes. |
| "I've had to leave important events, including a close friend's wedding, because the waiter didn't check exactly what was in the food and thought I was just being fussy. | "I've had to leave important events, including a close friend's wedding, because the waiter didn't check exactly what was in the food and thought I was just being fussy. |
| "I'll always have to be careful about not accidentally eating something I'm allergic to, but now restaurants and takeaways can no longer say they're not sure whether I can eat something, or that it's probably fine. | "I'll always have to be careful about not accidentally eating something I'm allergic to, but now restaurants and takeaways can no longer say they're not sure whether I can eat something, or that it's probably fine. |
| "This new law will make a huge difference to my life." | "This new law will make a huge difference to my life." |
| Businesses can choose how they give the information on allergens contained in their food - for example through conversations with customers, leaflets, food labelling or by highlighting ingredients on menus. | Businesses can choose how they give the information on allergens contained in their food - for example through conversations with customers, leaflets, food labelling or by highlighting ingredients on menus. |
| But if allergy advice is not clearly given, the Food Standards Agency says there need to be clear signs about where it can be obtained. | But if allergy advice is not clearly given, the Food Standards Agency says there need to be clear signs about where it can be obtained. |
| Lindsey McManus, from Allergy UK, said: "We hope that restaurants will see the advantage of going this extra mile as it offers huge benefits to the allergic customer and this will only encourage business. | Lindsey McManus, from Allergy UK, said: "We hope that restaurants will see the advantage of going this extra mile as it offers huge benefits to the allergic customer and this will only encourage business. |
| "It will enable people to eat out in confidence, knowing that allergens are monitored in dishes, and that the regulations are being adhered to." | "It will enable people to eat out in confidence, knowing that allergens are monitored in dishes, and that the regulations are being adhered to." |
| Pre-packaged food bought in supermarkets must also have clear allergen information on the labels. | Pre-packaged food bought in supermarkets must also have clear allergen information on the labels. |
| Do you own a restaurant and a takeaway shop? Or are you a customer who has a food allergy? What are your thoughts about the issues mentioned in the story? You can email us to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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