Food Allergens
Food Allergens
At SK FoodTech Services, we take food allergies seriously and specialise in helping businesses, organizations, navigate the complexities of food allergens. As awareness of food allergies grows, so does the need for effective management, compliance, and education surrounding allergen risks. Our expert consultancy services are designed to ensure that your food operations are safe, compliant with regulations, and capable of providing the best care for your customers or employees with food allergies.
Why Food Allergen Management Matters
Food allergens are a major public health concern. With increasing cases of food allergies worldwide, proper management of allergens in food production, preparation, and service is critical to avoid potentially life-threatening reactions. Food businesses have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect the health of those with allergies and provide clear, transparent information about the products they sell.
What Are Food Allergens?
Food allergens are ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. These reactions can range from mild symptoms like hives or itching to severe conditions such as anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction. The most common food allergens are:
- Peanuts
- Tree Nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazel, macadamia)
- Dairy (e.g., milk, cheese, butter)
- Eggs
- Fish (e.g., salmon, tuna, cod)
- Crustaceans – Shellfish (e.g., shrimp, lobster, crab, scampi)
- Molluscs (e.g. oysters, mussels, clams)
- Soya
- Mustard
- Cereals containing gluten (e.g. wheat, barley, oats, rye, spelt, kamut)
- Sesame
- Celery
- Lupin
- Sulphur dioxide (at levels above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l)
Our Services
We offer comprehensive consultancy services tailored to your specific needs, in allergen management and full compliance with Natasha’s Law aimed at achieving compliance with food safety regulations and enhancing consumer trust. Our consultancy services are designed to support your business in every step of the process:
- Allergen Risk Assessment: Identifying potential allergen hazards in your production process and developing strategies to mitigate risks.
- Ingredient and Supplier Management: Ensuring that all ingredients and suppliers meet stringent allergen control standards.
- Cross-Contamination Prevention: Implementing effective measures to prevent cross-contact between allergens and non-allergenic foods.
- Allergen Labelling Compliance: Assisting in accurate and clear allergen labelling to comply with legal requirements and protect consumers.
- Training : Providing comprehensive training programs for your staff on allergen awareness and safe handling practices.
- Audits and Inspections: Conducting regular audits and inspections to ensure your allergen management system remains effective and up-to-date.
Natasha’s Law. This important legislation has been implemented to protect consumers with food allergies and ensure that businesses in the food sector provide clear, accurate allergen information. We help you navigate these requirements, so your business stays compliant, your customers stay safe, and your reputation remains strong.
What is Natasha’s Law?
Natasha’s Law came into effect on October 1st, 2021, and requires food businesses to clearly label pre-packaged food with full ingredient lists, including details of any allergens. This law was introduced in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who tragically died from an allergic reaction to a sandwich that didn’t have clear allergen information.
Under the law, businesses are required to:
- Clearly display allergen information for pre-packaged food.
- List all ingredients in food, with specific emphasis on the 14 major allergens that must be highlighted.
- Ensure that customers have easy access to accurate and up-to-date allergen information, whether online or at the point of sale.
If you’re ready to take the next step in ensuring allergen safety and compliance in your organization, We provide continuous support to monitor, evaluate, and improve your allergen management systems.
Ensuring Compliance, Safety, and Confidence for Your Business