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More than one hundred members of the Chinese Community operating food businesses in Newry & Mourne District Council and neighbouring areas attended seminars to learn about the new allergen requirements being introduced on later this year. The seminars organised by the Council’s Environmental Health Department, facilitated by Peace III funding and held in partnership with the Southern Regional College. They were facilitated by an interpreter and all attendees were provided with guidance documents translated into Chinese. Both seminars were very well attended with more than 50 businesses availing of the opportunity
The Food Information for Consumers Regulations 2014 introduces the biggest change in food labelling requirements in almost twenty years. With all food businesses including restaurants, takeaways, retailers, bakeries and sandwich bars having to inform their customers if any of fourteen specific allergens are contained in the food they serve or sell. The fourteen allergens include nuts, peanuts, egg, milk, cereals containing gluten, soya, celery, sesame, crustaceans, fish, mustard, lupin and sulphur dioxide
From 13th December 2014, consumers can expect to see details of the allergens contained in the food they buy either on menus, chalk boards, tickets or provided verbally by an appropriate member of staff. When ordering take-away foods, they can expect to be asked about their allergy requirements before they place their order and to be provided with further information regarding the allergies on delivery of their meal.
Newry & Mourne District Council are providing further allergen workshops for local food businesses throughout the council area on the dates below.
The Council urge all local food businesses selling food loose, unpackaged or pre-packed for sale from their business to contact them on 028 3031 3103 to book a place at one of the workshops.
