Allergen Aware. Business Prepared.

It's crucial to have a robust allergen management system to protect your customers, build trust and comply with food safety regulations.  Understanding the allergen risks in your food business, knowing which allergens are present in your products, and correctly identifying how they can be cross contaminated are vital to your food safety practices.

One of the most important steps is to create a comprehensive allergen management system that includes risk assessments for all areas of your operation. This system should cover:

• Ingredient sourcing: Verify that your suppliers provide allergen information and ensure ingredients are free from cross-contamination risks.

• Product labelling: Ensure that all product labels accurately declare allergens, as required by law.

• Training: Your staff should be trained to recognise and handle allergens safely. Regular training can keep staff informed about any changes in allergen regulations or new allergens being identified.

• Traceability: Keep clear, detailed records that trace allergens throughout production. This allows for quick identification if an issue arises and supports compliance with food safety regulations.

• A HACCP Approach: Identifying potential food safety hazards at each stage of the production process. By incorporating allergens into your HACCP plan, you can ensure that critical control points such as ingredient handling, storage, and production procedures are in place to prevent contamination

Educating your staff about food allergen awareness and handling allergens safely is key to ensuring that safety practices are followed. The SALSA ‘Allergen Management—Principles & Practices’ training course taking place on the 23rd May 2025, delivers everything you need to know about developing and operating a safe and effective allergen management system.

Effective allergen management is essential for the safety of your customers and the success of your business. By implementing a robust allergen management system, using best practices to prevent cross-contamination, and gaining support from organisations like SALSA, you can ensure your products are safe for all consumers, including those with food allergies. 

Click here to book a place on our Allergen Management course. For more information about how SALSA or to request an invoice for training email info@salsafood.co.uk