We at Allergy Companions are committed to building a community of food venues and restaurants that all believe in the same principle – anyone dining out with allergies, or coeliac disease, should be able to enjoy a meal out safely and without judgment.
Booking process
- Any allergies highlighted by the customer at the time of booking (whether by phone or online) are logged on the system or clearly highlighted in the booking register;
- Any questions raised by the customer with regards to allergies are professionally dealt with either by the person taking the booking or by the manager of the venue.
Menu
- The menu either clearly articulates ingredients or allergens for each dish, or the restaurant manager is able to explain what each dish contains and how some dishes can be adapted to suit specific allergy needs.
- Although the menu might mention “we cannot guarantee all our dishes will be 100% allergen free” (or similar), we will not mention either verbally or in writing that eating at our venue is at customer’s own risk.
Chef and kitchen staff
- All staff working in the kitchen are to be made aware of any allergy requirements for a specific table, as soon as the diner/s arrive;
- The chef (or deputy on the day) is accountable for ensuring that the food prepared for the person dining with allergies has been prepared carefully and by following health and safety procedures to avoid cross-contamination
- The chef is happy to speak to the person dining at the venue, should they have any particular concerns that they want to clarify directly with the kitchen
- The chef and kitchen staff will always ensure that the 14 key allergens are clearly labelled in the kitchen, and that specific equipment and preparation areas are used when preparing food for someone suffering from allergies to eliminate any cross-contamination
Manager of the venue
- As the Manager of the venue, you will ensure that any table where allergies have been flagged, will be served by you or a designated senior member of staff and all staff are informed of the requirements for the table;
- You will ensure smooth communication between yourself and the kitchen staff, so that all allergy requirements and queries are dealt with directly between yourself and the people preparing the meal. This will avoid any information from being lost during the ordering process;
- You understand that, even if many questions can be asked by the person dining with allergies, they are only asking those questions because they want to feel reassured that their meal is going to be prepared safely;
- You commit to offering the most enjoyable experience to the person dining with allergies, as you know how stressful dining with allergies can be for someone affected by this condition.
General Allergy Companions principles
- As the owner of the venue, you commit to always taking food allergies seriously, meaning that anyone eating at your venue should feel safe and well-looked after;
- As the owner of the venue, you commit to ensuring that all staff (temporary and full-time) working in your premises have attended and passed the Food Standards Agency “food allergy and intolerance online training” in the last 12 months.
- Whilst Allergy Companions understand your restaurant may not be “allergen free”, the way your food is prepared follows strict guidelines as outlined in the Food Standard Agency training;
- You are an Allergy Companions advocate and are proud to be part of this community!
