1. THINK - ALLERGENS
ALL Staff Training on EU regulations Inc ward nursing staff involved in food service

2. There are MAJOR changes to the information that people preparing or serving food must give to their CUSTOMERS & PATIENTS
From 13th December 2014 new EU laws come into LEGAL force about allergens within foods
14 Allergens that MUST be communicated to ALL
THINK - ALLERGENS

3. If you work with food you will have a legal responsibility to provide the correct allergens information about the ingredients that is in the food you make or serve
THINK - ALLERGENS

4. Allergic reactions can make people very ill and can sometimes lead to death.
There is no cure for food allergy
The only treatment is to avoid the foods they are allergic to
THINK - ALLERGENS

5. The Impact of Food Allergy
The symptoms can include:
rashes (usually very itchy)
tingling sensation in the mouth
swelling of the lips, tongue, face and throat
difficulty breathing
diarrhoea
vomiting
abdominal cramps
and on rare occasions anaphylaxis
THINK - ALLERGENS

6. The importance of getting it right

7. The EU law has listed 14 allergens that need to be identified if they are used as ingredients in a dish
THINK - ALLERGENS

8. IF IN DOUBT ASK or DO NOT SERVE
IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE
The change in law means that you will no longer be able to say that you don’t know what allergens are in the food you serve
IF IN DOUBT ASK or DO NOT SERVE
THINK - ALLERGENS

9. THINK - ALLERGENS Upon Admission
How can/should the information will be provided
Upon Admission
Sign posting – statements on menus advising patients/customers to request information
Ward folders – grids of menu items and any allergens they contain
Trust Intranet
THINK - ALLERGENS

10. What do you also need to know
Updates – ensure you know how the information is updated
Importance of patients not sharing their food with other patients ie Birthday Cakes
Adhere to Trusts policies
THINK - ALLERGENS

11. IF IN DOUBT ASK or DO NOT SERVE
Summary
The information MUST be provided if the patient/customer requests
Always check the list NEVER guess
It is down to ALL to ensure that the patient/relatives -know to ask
Know where the information can be found for your ward area
IF IN DOUBT ASK or DO NOT SERVE
THINK - ALLERGENS

12. USEFUL RESOURSES
THINK - ALLERGENS

13. THINK - ALLERGENS HCA/BDA Toolkit
THINK - ALLERGENS

14. THINK - ALLERGENS Food allergy on-line training
THINK - ALLERGENS

15. Cereals containing gluten
EU list of allergens
Peanuts
Nuts
Milk
Soya
Mustard
Lupin
Eggs
Fish
Shellfish
Molluscs
Cereals containing gluten
Sesame
Celery
Sulphur dioxide

16. A limited amount are available in hardcopy.
The FSA has produced this guidance booklet to provide information on how to deal with the provision of allergen information for food sold loose.
A limited amount are available in hardcopy.

17. This poster is also available in Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Chinese.
‘Think Allergy’ poster can be downloaded from the FSA website to help in situations where language may be a problem.
This poster is also available in Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Chinese.
Again this is available in hardcopy.