Navigating social events with an allergy is a challenge many people face throughout the year. During the festive period we often go out more with family, friends and colleagues and we still need to prioritise our safety when it comes to allergies – without feeling excluded.

BFFF member, Anaphylaxis UK, have issued a short list of Dos and Don’ts to apply to your social calendar this Christmas:

Do tell your party about your allergy and make them aware of what to do in an emergency.

Don’t assume staff understand the seriousness of allergies. Remember to discuss how your food will be prepared and if it will be in contact with your allergen (for example, cooked in the same pan or oil).

Do your own research and always check in advance if a restaurant can cater for your allergy. Make suggestions for places you feel safe to eat at.

Don’t be afraid to send food or drink back or leave the restaurant if you don’t feel safe.

Do check the top 14 allergen information which all UK catering businesses must provide.

Don’t forget that allergens can also be present in alcoholic drinks. Common allergens include milk, sulphites and cereals such as wheat, barley or corn.

Do confirm when ordering and again when you receive your order that it does not contain your allergen.

Don’t visit during busy times. This may be unavoidable over Christmas but if possible, try to pick a time when the restaurant will be less busy such as a weekday or early evening.

Do look out for hidden allergens, for example, a complementary bread roll may contain nuts or seeds, and festive sauces, such as cranberry sauce or gravy, can come in lots of variations.

Do always carry two adrenaline auto-injectors with you at all times.

For more advice on eating out and what to do if something goes wrong, visit Anaphylaxis UK’s Eating Out page.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have all now updated precautionary advice to consumers with a peanut allergy to advise that they no longer need to avoid eating foods that contain or may contain mustard, mustard powder, mustard seeds or mustard flour. This applies to eating at home and eating out.   

Following on from investigations by Leicester City Council, the enforcing Local Authority, and FGS Ingredients Limited, FSA and FSS, have been assured that measures have been put in place by FGS Ingredients Limited to minimise the risk to people with a peanut allergy.  

FGS Ingredients Limited has advised their customers to remove products containing the contaminated mustard ingredients from sale.  

Working closely with the relevant local authorities, all the food businesses affected have been advised to review their food supply chains and remove any products that may have been contaminated with mustard ingredients from sale.  Where these products were sold at retail, product recalls have also been undertaken. 

As an additional safety precaution, increased sampling and surveillance of mustard products has been put in place to ensure that any further products that may be affected are identified as quickly as possible.

It is important that people with a peanut allergy should continue to avoid products that are listed in the allergy alert. Consumers and businesses are urged to check whether they still have any of the affected products listed and if so, they should follow the advice in the alerts.

More information can be found here