Updated allergen guidance for food businesses

New allergen guidance for food businesses selling non-prepacked food

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has updated its best practice guidance for businesses that sell non-prepacked or loose food. This update impacts all out-of-home businesses, including restaurants, cafés, delis, market stalls and takeaways.

The guidance aims to enhance safety for consumers with food hypersensitivities by improving how information about the 14 key food allergens is communicated.

The updated guidance includes:

• Written allergen information should always be available for non-prepacked food. Additionally, servers should discuss allergen requirements with customers.
• Examples of how to provide written allergen information 
• Free tools to support businesses with implementation, such as allergy icons, an allergen matrix and a new allergy poster that food businesses can download for use on their menus and websites.

For more information, access the guidance and tools on the FSA Allergen information guidance.

First published 4 April 2025