Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards and catering teams have been working together to ensure they are up to date with new food labelling legislation coming in to force next month.
From December 13, every business that sells or provides food will have a legal duty to provide information about allergenic ingredients.
The new Food Information Regulation 2014 lists 14 allergens that must be clearly identified to customers, whether they are eating in a restaurant, buying a takeaway, or having food delivered.
The local authority’s catering services team supplies over 19,000 school meals to primary and secondary schools every day, as well as supplying meals to social care establishments.
As with all businesses, they will have a legal responsibility to ensure anyone who eats or buys their food is well aware of any allergenic ingredients.
The trading standards team have already supplied information to over 1,100 local food establishments, but has this week provided full training to the catering team to ensure they can fully comply with the new law.
The council’s suppliers are also providing information to staff about allergens in their products.
Sandra Weigel, Catering Services Manager, said: “It is vitally important that we take every possible step to ensure that food allergens are clearly identified to every customer, whether they are a school pupil or an older person receiving care.
“We have worked closely with our colleagues in Trading Standards to get up to speed with the new regulations.”
Trading Standards Officer Carwyn Phillips has led the training.
He said: “The regulations provide more protection to people who suffer allergic reactions to certain foods, reactions that can leave them seriously ill.
“This is a major change to the food industry, and we are doing all we can to ensure every business – local authority or otherwise – that supplies food is well aware of the new laws.”
The Food Standards Agency has produced an information booklet outlining the new regulations, which is being provided to local businesses. If you own a food business and need further advice, email tradingstandards@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
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