Debate on e-petitions relating to food labelling and support for people with allergies

The e-petitions are no. 585304. 'Owen's Law' - Change the law around allergy labelling in UK restaurants and no. 589716, Appoint an Allergy Tsar as a champion for people living with allergies.

Food allergies

An allergy is when the body reacts to something that is normally harmless (allergens). For example, allergens include tree and grass pollen, foods such as peanuts, milk and eggs and insect stings.

Symptoms of allergies can be mild, such as a runny nose or sneezing. However, allergies can also cause more serious symptoms, such as hives (a raised rash), diarrhoea, feeling or being sick, and swollen eyes, lips, mouths or throat.

In some cases, allergies can cause anaphylaxis; this is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger, such as an allergy. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include breathing difficulties, a fast heartbeat and collapsing or losing consciousness.

The NHS has published information on allergies.

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. The NHS advises that an ambulance is requested via 999, even if the affected person starts to feel better. The NHS provides further information on anaphylaxis.

Which allergens should be labelled on food products

Labelling requirements are set out in Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, also known as the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulations. This is retained EU law and so applies across the UK.

Article 9 of the FIC Regulations sets out that labelling must include “any ingredient or processing aid listed in Annex II or derived from a substance or product listed in Annex II causing allergies or intolerances used in the manufacture or preparation of a food and still present in the finished product, even if in an altered form”.

Annex II sets out the 14 types of allergens that must be labelled and how the presence of allergens should be communicated to consumers.

Restaurants providing allergen information

Food business operators in the retail and catering sector, including restaurants, must provide allergen information to the consumer for both prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink.

For pre-packed food and drink, the labelling requirements set out in the FIC Regulations apply.

There is some discretion for restaurants in how they provide information for non-prepacked food and drink to consumers. FSA guidance says that “you will need to choose the method which is best for your business and the type of food you serve”.

Owen’s law petition (e-petition 585304)

The Owen's Law campaign website explains that Owen Carey was celebrating his 18th birthday in April 2017 when he suffered a deadly anaphylactic reaction to buttermilk in a chicken burger ordered from a Byron Burger restaurant, despite having explained his allergy to the server and been assured it was safe to eat.

Owen’s family is now calling for a change in the law surrounding how allergy information is displayed and given in restaurants in the UK.

Allergy Tsar petition (e-petition 589716)

E-petition 589716 called on the Government to “appoint an Allergy Tsar as a champion for people living with allergies”. This, the petition suggests, would help to ensure that people with allergies receive appropriate support and joined-up healthcare, helping to prevent avoidable deaths and ill health.

This pack contains more information on allergies, NHS allergy services, food labelling and the petitions, as well as recent PQs, news items and useful links.