FOOD ALLERGEN POSTER FOR FREE

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A llergen poster

• Allergy to certain types of food is prevalent in the UK.
• Reactions to these food allergies can range from mild itchiness to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
• A food allergen poster is a document that will serve as technical guidance for your employees and customers alike on the 14 major food allergens.

More than 2 million people in the UK experience food allergic reactions each year. It's around 1-2% of adults with food allergies and 8% of children, which is rising yearly. It has been estimated that around 2 million people with allergies in the UK. Allergic reactions are mostly mild, like hives, itching, or eczema. Although, in some cases, even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can cause a life-threatening reaction such as swollen airways.

Food allergies are very manageable as long as consumers know which food are they allergic to. As a food business owner, you must disclose which potential major allergen may be in your finished products. Some foods may not have some of the major allergens but may have been derived from them. Such is the case for lecithin, which may be made out of soy. The lack of information and the presence of allergens may cause a severe public health issue.

This is why strict food allergen laws such as Natasha's Law have been established. This food legislation aims to inform customers about the allergens used by requiring food companies to disclose all food information including ingredients and allergens in their products. The law requires this information to be indicated in the labelling for all pre-packed foods for direct sale. Non-compliance with these labelling requirements can be considered as a criminal offence.

Our free food allergy notice poster will help your food officers remember easily the list of allergens that cause 90% of all food allergies and protect your customers.

How will the food allergy poster pdf help me?

We know from our own experience that as a food business, your team is always busy serving customers and you as an owner, chef, or manager are responsible for running the successful business. One of the biggest challenges in business practices is to train your team to handle food safely, including avoiding cross-contamination in food preparation when handling food allergens.

If the customer has a food allergy, even a tiny piece of allergens in food can trigger a reaction. That's why it's crucial to have a clear food allergy poster pdf to display in your workplace - so your kitchen team will see all 14 major allergens and the allergenic risk involved at a glance. Your food allergen poster's main objectives include the following:

• Notice for consumers. A food allergen poster template must be placed where it is noticeable by everyone who enters or buys any of your finished product. It must also be clear and well written so customers can read it. In addition to appropriate allergen labelling, your food allergen poster must indicate all 14 major allergens and where possible, indicate which ones are most applicable to your current shop products. It can be an important form of guidance for food businesses.
• Reminder for employees. Your food allergens safety sign must also be posted where it is visible in the production area or where your employees usually handle common foods. This poster will serve as a notice for employees of the important allergens and remind customers of them. Food business operators must undergo food allergy training exercises to remind or ask consumers of any known allergies they have to ensure that they will not be served with any allergenic foods they are sensitive to.
• Compliance with requirements of food law. According to Natasha's Law, all food businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are required to provide a full ingredients list and allergen on foods packed for sale on their premises.

Is a food allergy notice poster mandatory?

Natasha's Law requires businesses to label the food with a complete list of ingredients to make it easier for consumers to identify and avoid foods that contain food allergens. Under the mandate of the Food Standards Agency, you are required to display the clearest food allergy notice and allergen advice statement in any of these forms:

• Precautionary allergen statement on your menu, on a chalkboard, on a leaflet, or on an information pack
• An allergy warning or sign explaining how customers can gain the information (e.g. asking the employees)
• Allergy awareness materials of the 14 major allergens.

Indicating allergen content can be on the packaging, labels, or a statement for customers to ask staff about food allergies. A food allergy notice poster is not a legal requirement, but it is helpful to remind your kitchen team regarding the 14 major allergens.