Living with food allergies or intolerance comes with a unique set of challenges. You need to think twice before you put anything inside your mouth to make sure that it will not trigger any adverse reaction. It is especially true when you are ordering takeaway since you do not have any control over the ingredients used.
The good news is that there are allergy aware takeaways available today. How do you know which ones are safe? Before we get to this, let us take a closer look at the 14 common food allergens.
What are the 14 Most Common Allergens?
Food businesses in the UK, takeaways included, are required by law to inform all customers if they are using one of the 14 most potent and prevalent allergens.
- Celery
- Barley, oats, and other cereals with gluten
- Eggs
- Fish
- Milk
- Mussels, oysters, and other types of mollusks
- Prawns, crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans
- Peanuts
- Mustards
- Sesame
- Soybeans
- Sulphites
- Sulphur dioxide
If you are allergic to food products not included in the list, check the menu posted online or get in touch with someone from the company.
How to Order Allergy-Safe Takeaway Food
If you are allergic to certain food products, look for takeaways that bear the Allergen Accreditation certificate. This certificate is awarded to companies with allergy-friendly food products, and you can rest easy that any takeaway that it has is made with the consumer in mind.
Still, different people have different food intolerances, so it is best to check the menu or discuss your situation with a representative of the business to make sure that you won’t be at risk from the food you want to order.
To give you a better idea of how the conversation should go, here are some of the important things you need to ask:
- Does the business or company offer allergy-friendly meals or food items on its menu?
- If not, does it have the capability to prepare an allergy-friendly meal just for you?
- Is there a risk for allergens to contaminate your food in the way it is prepared and handled in the kitchen?
After asking these and other similarly probing questions, ask the manager or business representative to inform you before making any last-minute substitutions or alterations in the recipe in case some ingredients are not available.
Taking Additional Precautions
You must be especially wary if the dish you want to order is very complex. The more ingredients it has and the more steps are involved, the bigger chance there is for allergens to make their way into your food.
Most takeaway companies are very upfront about their processes with regard to allergens. While they are not required to offer you alternatives, most of them understand how serious food intolerance is and are willing to help you get the food that you want without the risks of possible allergic reactions.
Always Ask for the Allergen Information
Takeaways are categorized as distance selling, which means that all the relevant allergen information must be made available to you at the point of sale and when the food reaches your doorstep. You can also look for this information on the website, in the menu, or when you talk to someone on the phone.
Aside from these steps, the takeaway company should label each container clearly to make sure that you know which of the food items are safe for you. Check out our wide range of takeaways here at ChefOnline – there is a wide range of cuisines available.
