Renfrewshire businesses are being advised of new EU food allergy regulation deadline.
From 13 December all businesses that sell food will have to display allergy information on food they make or serve.
The Food Information Regulations will make it mandatory for businesses to specify which foods contain allergens and they will no longer be able to state that any of their products may contain allergens.
There are 14 allergens that need to be identified: celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, nuts, peanuts, soya, sesame seeds and sulphur dioxide.
Details of allergens must be in a clearly accessible place, such as a menu, or clearly signposted where the customer can obtain a written copy or verbal advice.
Councillor Eddie Devine, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Environment Policy Board, said: “The new food regulations will make it easier for those who suffer from food allergies to know exactly what’s in their food before they eat it. Allergy sufferers should not have to face the choice of risking eating food that, depending on their allergy, could have serious consequences on their health.
“Businesses will have to comply with these regulations or they could face prosecution. Our Environmental Health Officers will be inspecting local premises routinely to make sure they meet the regulations.”
For more information, please visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 0380.