FSAI & Varadkar Launch Allergen Tool for Food Businesses
Monday, 9 November 2015
A new,
online and mobile compatible tool has been developed by the Food Safety
Authority of Ireland (FSAI) to assist Ireland’s 22,000 food service businesses
identify and manage allergens in the food they serve. The easy-to-use facility
was launched today by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar to help food businesses
comply with their legal requirements to display allergen information on food so
that consumers can make more informed choices about the food they purchase. The
tool is an additional application as part of the FSAI’s MenuCal calorie calculator, which is available
free-of-charge. MenuCal enables food service businesses to calculate calorie
values in the food they serve to customers.
The legal requirement to
display allergen information applies to all food businesses, including
restaurants, pubs, takeaways, contract caterers, food stalls, as well as
businesses offering delivery services. Retail outlets such as shops and
supermarkets selling prepacked food are also required to display allergen
declarations for non-prepacked products. Written food allergen information must
be easily located and accessible to the consumer and clearly identify the food
allergen associated with individual food items. The 14 categories of allergens
covered include gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, celery, eggs, fish and
shellfish.
Minister Varadkar said: “Many people with allergies have
to be extra careful when they eat out. Last year I made it compulsory for food
businesses to label allergens on non-prepacked food products. This new MenuCal
facility is a really useful online tool that reminds businesses about allergens
when they’re calculating the calorie content of their menus. Well done to the
FSAI for designing MenuCal and I’m delighted that other countries are now
looking to adopt it. I hope it makes life easier and safer for both customers
and food providers.”
According to Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive,
FSAI, the allergen tool is an important additional FSAI resource for chefs and
managers, helping food businesses more easily comply with their legal obligation
to inform consumers of allergens in food. The tool streamlines the management
of allergen information by enabling chefs to electronically store allergen
information for all the ingredients they are use in their own secure account.
This means when ingredients change, food businesses simply update the
information in MenuCal and every recipe that uses the ingredients will update
automatically.
“Most people take for granted that they can
enjoy food without undue risk. However, a significant number of people need to
be ever-cautious and avoid certain food allergens, which can cause severe and
possibly life-threatening reactions. Clear and accurate labelling of allergens
is therefore essential as even trace amounts can have serious consequences for
those affected,” said Dr Byrne. “This is where the FSAI’s allergen tool will be
of significant assistance to food businesses by helping them meet their
obligations. Additional resources include a leaflet and FAQs are also available
by visiting its website.”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
About
MenuCal
The FSAI designed MenuCal in consultation with a team of
nutritionists, computer scientists and food business trainers to create an
easy-to-use solution for the Irish market that would act as a resource for chefs
and cooks. It is being used by chefs who were instrumental in its initial
design to ensure it is instinctive and straightforward to use.
MenuCal is considered a first of its kind in Europe and the FSAI has already
received interest from other jurisdictions wishing to adopt the system. The tool
incorporates over 2,000 popular food ingredients which users can add to and
customise, based on their own recipes. It also provides a secure and safe place
for chefs and cooks to keep personalised recipes and maintain files of their
most popular dishes under password protection. MenuCal can be tried and tested
at www.menucal.ie
FSAI Leaflet on
Allergen Information for Non-Prepacked Food
Guidance Note No. 28: Food
Allergen Information for Non-Prepacked Foods in Ireland
Allergen
labelling FAQ
Details
of 14 allergens as listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 (FIC)