Food businesses are not doing enough to provide written allergen information to consumers, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned.

Currently, food businesses are supposed to provide accurate written information on 14 specified allergens in both prepacked and non-prepacked foods. These allergens include eggs, fish, peanuts, milk, celery and mustard.

However, the FSAI has found that while there is increased awareness of allergens overall, more need to be done especially in relation to non-prepacked foods.

Non-prepacked foods include foods sold in loose form, e.g. foods sold in restaurants, delis, takeaways, cafes etc..., and foods packed on a premises for direct sale to the consumer or mass caterer, such as a lasagne made in a café kitchen and sold packaged from that café's fridge.

According to a survey carried out on behalf of the FSAI, 43% of consumers are unaware that food businesses must provide consumers with accurate written allergen information in relation to the food they are serving or selling.

Meanwhile, 20% believe food businesses are not doing enough to inform them about allergens in foods.

While restaurants and cafes performed relatively strongly in this area, with around three in four people having seen written allergen information in these businesses, 82% have not seen written information displayed on food/ice cream vans, 74% have not seen it displayed at market food stalls, 66% have not seen it in childcare facilities and 64% have not seen it in staff canteens.

Furthermore, while most people say it is more common to see allergen information today compared to five years ago, around 30% find this information difficult to understand.

According to FSAI chief executive, Dr Pamela Byrne, many food businesses are still not compliant and continue to break the law by not providing this essential information to their customers.

"Not providing, or providing inaccurate written allergen information for customers, was cited as one of the reasons closure orders were served on seven food businesses since September 2017.

"Environmental health officers will continue to take action where they find non-compliance with the law during their inspections. While there are many food businesses that are compliant, there still continues to be many who are not," she commented.

The survey of 1,000 adults noted that 10% of adults in Ireland say that they have a food allergy or food intolerance.

"Allergic reactions to food make people ill and in particular situations can be fatal. Whether you're running a café, hotel, pub, restaurant, takeaway, deli, food van or market stall, we are urging you to provide accurate written allergen information for your customers, as required by law," Dr Byrne said.

Anyone who wishes to make a complaint about unavailable or incorrect written allergen information in food businesses can contact the FSAI advice line. This line is also there to support food businesses who may need help in this area. The advice line number is 1890 33 66 77.

More advice for food businesses is also available here