MANCHESTER, UK. June 25, 2026 – Fresh audit data from Safe to Trade is drawing attention to a growing gap between allergen management policies and how they are carried out in everyday hospitality settings. The organisation says this disconnect is creating avoidable risks for customers with food allergies, particularly when businesses are operating under pressure.
The findings are part of the latest Safe to Trade Data insights. While allergen management is not among the most common areas of non-conformance identified during audits, it continues to be one of the most significant in terms of potential consumer harm. Since January 2023, Safe to Trade has recorded 765 allergen-related non-conformances, averaging 19 each month.
The data indicates that risks are most likely to occur when allergen procedures are not followed consistently during day-to-day operations, especially at busy service times. Rather than deliberate breaches, the issues are typically linked to inconsistent training, varying procedures and the practical challenges of maintaining accuracy in fast-moving hospitality environments.
Audit findings identified recurring problems with allergen information, including missing or incomplete records, information that is not reviewed regularly, increased instances of poor customer signposting over the past six months, a lack of detail such as identifying the specific type of nut or gluten-containing ingredient, and occasions where incorrect information has been provided to customers.
The most serious findings involved allergens being present in food without being declared, creating an immediate and potentially life-threatening risk for consumers. Audits also continued to identify cross-contamination risks caused by shared equipment, ineffective cleaning practices and insufficient separation between allergen-containing and allergen-free foods.
Around 2.4 million adults in the UK are living with a clinically confirmed food allergy, making accurate allergen information an increasingly important factor in where consumers choose to dine.
The audit data also highlights broader operational issues, including dependence on manual processes and inconsistent staff training. These challenges become more pronounced during busy periods when the likelihood of mistakes increases.
Although allergen management is covered by legislation, it is not directly reflected within the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Safe to Trade says this creates a potential gap in how food safety risks are prioritised across the hospitality sector. Allergen management therefore remains a key element of the Safe to Trade audit framework.
The findings reinforce the importance of making allergen management part of everyday operations through well-defined procedures, regular staff training and ongoing checks to ensure standards are maintained.
Alec Kyriakides, Independent Food Safety Consultant and Chair of the Safe to Trade Technical Standards Committee, said: “The data shows that allergen management is not the most frequent area of non-conformance, but it is consistently one of the most critical in terms of potential consumer impact. The recurring issues centre around the availability, accuracy and specificity of allergen information, alongside the control of cross-contamination.
“In many cases, allergen categories are identified, but the specific allergen is not, which creates a significant gap in the information being provided to consumers. These findings underline the importance of precision, consistency and regular review.”
For more information, visit the Safe to Trade website here: https://safetotrade.com/
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