The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has issued a warning about snacks and sweets being sold on TikTok without allergen information being provided.  

The warning follows a BBC investigation which found that listings on TikTok show people selling snacks and sweets without highlighting they contain one of 14 main allergens that UK businesses are legally required to declare. 

When the BBC brought these listings to TikTok’s attention, it deleted them, however it is currently still possible to sell food on TikTok Shop without providing any ingredient or allergy information. 

A major recent study by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed that approximately 6% of the UK adult population, or around 2.4 million people, live with a clinically confirmed food allergy. Food allergies are a cause of particular concern in young children, where the incidence of food allergy (which is often life threatening) is estimated to be 5-8% in toddlers. 

Around 10 people die from allergic reactions to food every year in the UK with hospital admissions for allergic reactions going up by 161.3% over the last 20 years.  

CIEH state that they have seen many high-profile cases of where wrong food allergen labelling or practice in food businesses has led to loss of life, showing just how critical it is that this information is provided and is accurate. 

The warning from CIEH echoes calls from charities such as Anaphylaxis UK for allergy sufferers to be vigilant when buying food online – if the product they are buying does not contain ingredient and allergen information, do not buy it. 

In light of the fact that the growth of food being purchased online and via social media is bound to increase, CIEH is calling on the Government to future-proof the UK’s food safety and integrity framework, ensuring it remains robust and adaptable.  

They have called for the introduction of a ‘permit to trade’ for all registered food businesses to ensure a food business cannot open unless appropriate information has been provided and the necessary food safety measures and controls are in place.