nearly two thirds of people with a food allergy or intolerance avoid eating out

A survey among 2,599 respondents aged 16-24 years designed to ascertain the views of young people living with food allergies and intolerances found that, across the UK, 60% of young people with a food allergy or intolerance have avoided eating out in the last six months due to their condition.

The survey, released by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with Allergy UK (AUK) and the

Anaphylaxis Campaign (AC), found that in Northern Ireland:

• 7% reported that they don’t tell anyone about their condition, risking allergic reactions.

• When asked why, they said they felt too embarrassed to talk publicly about having a food allergy or felt their condition is too complicated to explain.

• 15% are too embarrassed or not confident enough to ask staff in eating establishments for allergen information.

• 56% said they often visit the same food outlet if they’ve eaten safely there before, proving that good allergen information is good for businesses.

• The FSA in Northern Ireland, working with AUK and AC, has launched Easy To ASK, a campaign designed to empower young people to ask food businesses about allergens when eating out, so they can make safe choices.

• Easy to ASK is also a reminder to businesses to be upfront about the provision of accurate allergen information, as asking a customer if they have food allergies could save a life.

It follows the simple mnemonic: Always ask about allergies Speak Up

Keep Safe