Food outlets such as cafes, sandwich shops and mobile caterers are being reminded of the importance of regularly reviewing their food preparation protocols to ensure that allergens don’t contaminate the products they serve.
Officers from Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service carried out a mystery shopper of 75 businesses across Devon and Somerset.
The businesses were independent, a mix of garden centres, coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants.
At each business an officer specified their allergy and asked for a product which did not contain that allergen.
Each product was then tested at a lab – most businesses, 59, passed: however, 16 did not and allergens were found, with traces of milk being the most common.
There are 14 allergens which can cause serious health problems: gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites (above 10mg/kg or 10mg/litre); lupin; and molluscs.
By law food outlets must provide allergen information to customers, handle and manage food allergens effectively when food is being prepared and ensure that staff receive training.
Thirteen of the caterers that failed then had an immediate inspection due to poor food management systems, while 15 more needed a follow-up inspection.
For more information go to Allergens in food – Trading Standards Service
Businesses can also contact trading standards us for further advice/guidance via email tradingstandards@devon.gov.uk or via our form Register for business advice – Trading Standards Service
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