In 2016, 15 year old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died after eating a baguette that contained sesame, an undeclared allergen to which she was allergic. In the wake of Natasha\u2019s tragic death her family campaigned for a change to allergen labelling and in 2021 legislation was introduced that mandated that all food pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) must list all ingredients on the food label. Natasha\u2019s Law<\/a> is the culmination of years of dedicated campaigning by her family and brought to light the flawed and outdated nature of UK allergen laws. Owen\u2019s Law hopes to build on Natasha’s Law, further enhancing the provision of allergen information so that those suffering from food allergies can make better informed decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Owen\u2019s Law would necessitate the provision of written allergen information on menus in all food businesses including restaurants and cafes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The campaign is advocating for the following changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under Owen\u2019s Law, businesses would have a legal obligation to provide written information about allergens. This could be in the form of symbols, numbers or words that represent the 14 major allergens on a menu, a display board or an app. Moreover, businesses would need to adopt thorough training processes which would include certified training and encourage staff to actively ask customers about allergies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Owen\u2019s Law has not yet been ratified and is therefore not yet a legal requirement. However, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently updated their guidance regarding best practice when handling allergens<\/a>. Their guidance echoes the parameters of Owen\u2019s Law and reiterates the FSA\u2019s support of improved allergen information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Owen\u2019s Law has received notable support from public bodies such as the FSA and whilst it is not currently mandatory to follow the parameters that it sets out, it\u2019s advisable for businesses to do so. Providing thorough and detailed allergen information is vital to keeping the public safe and food businesses should not wait until it is legally mandatory to do so. Not only will adopting these practices help customers with food allergies to make better informed decisions, it will also help them to feel safer when ordering and act as a trust signal that your business is one that cares about safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All food businesses should already have robust allergen management policies<\/a> and practices in place. As such, preparing for Owen\u2019s Law will not necessarily require extensive or expensive additional steps. Practical steps that you can follow to prepare for Owen\u2019s Law include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These steps can be further supplemented by prominently displaying allergen posters<\/a> so that staff have frequent visual reminders of what they need to consider when serving staff. Food allergen risk assessments<\/a> are also valuable tools to help you track any allergens that you use and to identify and reduce any risk that they may then pose. Allergen management is underpinned by effective communication<\/a> and it\u2019s vital that you foster an environment of clear communication so that allergen information can be easily and readily shared. This will help to create and maintain a culture of food safety<\/a> that keeps everyone safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you to fully understand Owen\u2019s Law, we have put together some FAQs that you may have regarding the law and how it may impact your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Owen\u2019s Law is not currently a legal requirement and it is difficult to say when\/if it will become one. However, the newly updated FSA guidance regarding best practice, which reflects the parameters of Owen\u2019s Law, suggests that it may soon become law. Moreover, the campaign has received extensive public support highlighting a continued need for improved allergen regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n The food industry is subject to frequent regulation changes and whilst Owen\u2019s Law is not a legal necessity <\/span>yet<\/span><\/i>, that is not to say that it never will be. By preparing for the law, businesses can ensure that they are adhering to best practice and are fully prepared should the law be ratified. Moreover, taking the extra steps to protect customers with food allergies acts as a trust signifier that you take food safety seriously and are doing everything you can to safely cater for everyone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n Owen\u2019s Law would apply to non-prepacked food, that is to say food that is sold loose. This includes, but is not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\n Owen\u2019s Law requires that allergen information be provided in writing but this doesn\u2019t necessarily mean redesigning your entire menu. You may choose to add symbols or numbers to represent the allergens that a dish contains. Alternatively, you may choose to create separate allergen matrices for the dishes that contain the 14 major allergens or a separate allergen menu which can be provided to customers. The information needs to be clear and easy to understand so however you decide to go about adding it, ensure that it is easily accessible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n The tragic loss of Owen Carey was completely avoidable. Had the necessary allergen information been provided to him, he would have been able to make an informed decision as to what he ordered. Adding allergen information to menus and improving staff training are changes that can undeniably save lives. People with food allergies should not be treated as an inconvenience and have every right to enjoy dining out, safe in the knowledge that their needs have been catered for.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Owen’s Law campaign advocates for a change in the law surrounding how allergy information is displayed and given in restaurants. Find out more here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":78960,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[83,700,773],"class_list":["post-78930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-hygiene","tag-food-allergens","tag-food-safety","tag-hospitality"],"acf":{"schema_disabled":false,"schema_properties_FAQPage_question_answer":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_tools":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_supplies":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_steps":null,"schema_properties_WebPage_cssSelector":null,"schema_sameAs_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_override":false},"yoast_head":"\n
\n\n\n\nWhat Does Owen\u2019s Law Require of Food Businesses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nHow to Prepare for Owen\u2019s Law<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nFAQs on Owen\u2019s Law<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n When will Owen\u2019s Law be ratified?
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\n <\/h3>\n \n Why should businesses adhere to it if it isn\u2019t yet law?
\n <\/h3>\n \n What food and drink would Owen\u2019s Law apply to?
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\n Do I have to redesign my entire menu to adhere to Owen\u2019s Law?
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\n\n\n\nFurther Resources:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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