Allergens

The Food Information for Consumers Regulations 2014 came into force on 13 December 2014. 

 

All food businesses including manufacturers, restaurants, takeaways, retailers, bakeries, sandwich bars, etc. are now required to inform you if any of fourteen specific allergens are contained in the food they serve or sell.

 

The 14 allergens include nuts, peanuts, egg, milk, cereals containing gluten, soya, celery, sesame, crustaceans, fish, mustard, molluscs, lupin and sulphur dioxide/sulphites.

 

Consumers should now expect to see details of allergens contained in food you buy on the label, menus, chalk boards, tickets or provided verbally by an appropriate member of staff. 

 

When ordering takeaway foods, consumers should expect to be asked about your allergy requirements before placing your order and be provided with further information regarding the allergies on delivery of your meal.

 

Natasha’s Law is a new allergen labelling law that came into force in October 2021 and affects prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods in Northern Ireland. 

Safefood has produced a series of videos in conjunction with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland. To access the videos, click on the links below:

 

• What is a prepacked for direct sale product? 

• How to create an ingredient list to comply with the law.

• How to design and print a label for PPDS products

 

Further information on allergens for consumers is available on the Food Standards Agency website.

 

Further information for businesses is available at:

• Allergen guidance for food businesses

If you need any further assistance or would like to report a business that is not meeting the requirements and/or illness in relation to allergens you can do so by contacting the Food Safety Team at 0330 137 4024 or email: ehealth@nmandd.org