UK: New Food Allergy Accreditation Scheme Launched

14 Jul 2015 --- The national charity Allergy UK has launched a new accreditation scheme to help food service operators promote themselves as catering for food allergies. 

The Allergy Aware Scheme demonstrates that, on top of legal requirements, the staff of each of these outlets provides a good quality service for the estimated two million people in the UK with food allergies and intolerances. 

The scheme, which comprises detailed expert food allergy training, means that successfully accredited restaurants will receive a premium listing on an online restaurant and menu directory for the allergic and coeliac community called Can I Eat There? Users can search by location, cuisine or allergy rating and then filter the menu by allergen to see what they can eat.

All outlets are required to sign an Allergy Aware Scheme Charter to ensure best practice and compliance. Interested businesses can join the scheme initially for a 12-month period, and will be subject to renewal on an annual basis. 

Allergy UK is working with dedicated training provider, Allergy Aware Kitchen to deliver the training. 

On the website there is also the option for customers to read and leave reviews. The website highlights restaurants that are part of the Allergy Aware Scheme, guiding them to the most allergy-friendly venues. 

The EU Food Information Regulations introduced in December state all catering outlets must now be able to provide information on which of the top 14 allergens (including egg, nuts and milk) are present in every dish served. 

Allergy UK’s chief executive Carla Jones said: “Severe food allergy is a potentially life-threatening condition. Those with a food allergy know only too well the risk posed when eating out and frequently choose not to. 

The Allergy Aware Scheme aims to help caterers seize the opportunity to deliver a ‘gold standard’ service to a section of the community that, until now, has been very much excluded. We will provide recognition to businesses that don’t only take allergies seriously, but that are going above and beyond legislation, to deliver an exceptional service for the allergic community.”
 
London’s Rainforest Cafe and Nibsy’s Gluten Free Coffee Shop in Reading are among the first companies to sign up to the scheme.