FOOD businesses in Taunton and West Somerset are being alerted to important new changes in product labelling which will be enshrined in law at the end of this year.

From December 13, ALL pre-packed and loose food sold direct to the consumer will have to advise of potential allergens that could lead to severe reactions.

There are 14 allergens on the regulatory list and the presence of any of these must appear on labels – or, in the case of food sold in cafes, delis, supermarkets and restaurants customers must be advised of their presence.

The joint environmental health team serving Taunton Deane and West Somerset is now contacting all food businesses in the districts to advise on the changes and to help businesses find any information and training they may need from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Useful leaflets, packed with information, are available from the FSA and detail the allergens that fall under the regulations as well as sound advice for consumers if they are buying food that’s not pre-packed.

They are available from the FSA website.

The changes are coming about due to a new piece of European legislation is called the Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU FIC).

The 14 allergens are: eggs, milk, fish, crustaceans (for example crab, lobster, crayfish, shrimp, prawn), molluscs (for example mussels, oysters, squid), peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, brazils, pistachios, macadamia nuts or Queensland nuts), sesame seeds, cereals containing gluten (wheat (such as spelt, Khorasan wheat/Kamut), rye, barley, oats, or their hybridised strains), soya, celery and celeriac, mustard, lupin, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (at concentration of more than ten parts per million). 

Remember, if you are allergic to a food and are in any doubt, speak to a member of staff at the premises concerned.