FSA to discuss Owen’s Law campaign this month

The Food Standards Agency’s push for operators to list allergens on menus is one step closer as proposals are set to be discussed on 13 December.

The meeting will review the progress made on the FSA's Food Hypersensitivity (FHS) programme and invite board members to provide a view on the recommended approaches to the provision of information in the non-prepacked sector.

It will set out to ask if the board agrees with the proposal to “create a presumption for those supplying non-prepacked food, that they will provide both written information and a conversation?”

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) will ask members on 13 December whether it should bring forward guidance without legislation in the short term, and take a decision at a later date whether to advise government to make menu labelling a legal requirement.

The law has been petitioned by the family of 18-year-old Owen Carey, who suffered a fatal reaction to a Byron chicken burger that contained buttermilk on 22 April 2017.

A petition after the incident gained almost 13,000 signatures which led to a debate in Parliament in May.

Carey’s farther told the BBC he is waiting with “bated breath” for the policy decision in the coming days.

It has been over two years since the implementation of Natasha’s Law in October 2021, which saw all operators in England who produce food that is pre-packaged for direct sale (PPDS) to customers on-site clearly label food with potential allergen information. However, the law does not currently extend to operators providing non-pre-packaged foods.

Papers published ahead of the FSA meeting to discuss Owen’s Law said: “People with a food hypersensitivity need to be able to make informed decisions on where and what to eat. Our evidence indicates that there is room for improvement in the current information flows, and written information is a key part of that.”

It plans to discuss whether allergen information must be provided either in written format (such as on a menu), or orally from front of house staff or in both formats.

“If [an operator] chooses not to provide written information there must be signposting to direct the consumer to where this information can be found, such as asking a member of staff,” suggest the papers.

“We welcome the board’s views on the proposals for the provision of allergy information in the non-prepacked sector: to set a strong expectation of both written information and a conversation; and to do so in a way that drives a common approach and standardisation as far as possible; while retaining sufficient flexibility that all businesses are willing, able and supported to comply; without the need for additional legislation at this time.”