‘Tis the season to be food allergy aware

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Our top tips for staying compliant and keeping diners safe this Christmas

Christmas is traditionally a time for overindulgence, especially when eating out. For many hospitality businesses, this means menus containing more allergens such as nuts, gluten and dairy products. As the risk to allergy sufferers increases and hospitality staff get busier, it is more important than ever for businesses to be extra vigilant about allergen labelling, to stay compliant and keep diners safe.

Here, we share our tips on how to celebrate Christmas whilst taking extra precautions this year.

#1. Complimentary extras and gifts
Christmas is a time for giving, and with festive dining often comes extra food items to add some sparkle and delight customers. From welcome nibbles and bread rolls to added condiments and after-dinner petit fours, Christmas menus are full of additional items to make a meal out extra special.

When providing free gifts and added extras that may not be included on menus, hospitality businesses must be cautious about ingredients and are legally obligated to clearly label the top 14 allergens. Ensure staff communicate with every guest about the allergens in these additional food items, and that ingredients are clearly labelled on every item leaving your kitchen.

#2. Busy wait and kitchen staff
Research predicts a total spend of £8.36bn on food & drink over the six-week Christmas period this year, with a 3.2% increase in festive dining at hospitality venues. If these figures are anything to go by, restaurants, pubs, hotels and bars will be extremely busy over the coming weeks.

With front-of-house staff more rushed than ever, there is an increased risk of human error when it comes to allergens. With a higher turnover of diners, it is even more important for wait staff to enquire about any allergies and ensure every diner is informed with clear, transparent menu labelling.

With increased footfall, so too comes increased pressure in the kitchen. As chefs create more dishes than usual, due diligence is more important than ever for allergy-safe cooking. For example, certain chopping boards must be kept separate, and food should not be cooked in the same pans or oil as potential allergens to prevent cross-contamination. Not only will this extra care ensure your business is compliant with allergy regulations, but it will also keep customers safe when dining out during the busiest time of the year.

Consider additional information or training courses for your staff in the lead-up to Christmas. Our handy, free Allergy Education Guide is a great way to ensure your team is up to date on allergens, risks and anaphylaxis treatment.

#3. Christmas tipples
Drinks are not exempt from allergens and should be taken just as seriously as your food menu.

With special festive cocktails, themed beers and additional wines gracing many drinks menus over Christmas, ingredients should be labelled just as clearly as on your main food listings.

From added milk and nut liquors to wheat and sulphites, festive drinks can contain many different allergens. Ensure all drink lists include the top 14 and any additional allergens are clearly stated, to keep customers fully informed when enjoying a tipple.

#4. Technology ensures transparency
With specialist hospitality technology, software can take the stress of festive menu updates away from your staff. This frees up their time to deliver the Christmas cheer, while keeping customers safe.

To stay within FSA guidelines and comply with legislation, restaurants must keep their menus up to date with the 14 main allergens. When chefs change their dishes, add festive specials, substitute ingredients, switch suppliers, or add ingredients to a dish, allergens can change unknowingly.

Specialist technology, such as Kitchen CUT’s allergen & nutrition software, will automatically update the allergen and nutrition labels for each dish and menu based on which ingredients are added or removed. This means your kitchen and front-of-house staff don’t need to worry about allergens being missed during peak busy periods.

Kitchen staff can even go one step further with their allergy compliance by adding additional allergens and sub-allergens not featured in the main 14 to their ingredient information, such as garlic, mushrooms and onions. This provides an even better, more transparent service for customers, helping to build trust and encouraging repeat bookings from those who may otherwise struggle to dine out.

As chefs unleash their creativity to adapt menus to suit the festive season, you can gain peace of mind knowing that accurate, real-time allergen information for each dish is clearly displayed for customers to see, reducing staff stress and giving every customer a brilliant Christmas experience.

#5. Inclusivity secures repeat diners
Christmas can be the hardest time of year to eat out for those with food allergies, and as menus become more indulgent, it can be more difficult for many to find suitable options.

To set your business apart, why not consider adding more allergen-friendly dishes to your menu, such as additional dairy-free, gluten-free or vegan options? By catering to the 2.4 million (and growing) people in the UK who suffer from food allergies, your business will create a safe space for many to dine out, increase your loyal customer base and boost your profits.

As the busy Christmas period rolls around, allergen updates could be seen as another item on the long to-do list. But with hospitality businesses facing huge fines for exposing customers to potentially harmful allergens, it has never been more important to keep diners fully informed about what is in their dishes. With clear communication, increased education and specially designed technology, your business can keep people safe, whilst thriving this Christmas.