LEGISLATION which sets out requirements for allergen labelling for hospitality businesses and other food providers is due to be brought forward by the end of this year, the Environment Minister has said.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf said the changes would form part of a new ‘modern and comprehensive food law for Jersey’.
There are currently no express food allergy laws in Jersey.
In the UK, restaurants and cafés must provide customers with allergen information in writing. This could be allergen information on menus or a prompt explaining how customers can obtain such information.
Under the so-called Natasha’s Law, which was introduced in the UK in 2021, all food retailers must display full ingredients and allergen information on every food item made on the premises and on pre-packed food for direct sale.
The law was introduced after 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperous died in 2016 following an allergic reaction to sesame contained in a baguette bought from Pret a Manger.
Dominic Jones, director of JPRestaurants, has called for specific food allergy legislation to be introduced in Jersey.
He said it should be a requirement for hospitality venues to list the possible allergens in their food so that customers could make more informed decisions when choosing their meals.
While the government said they were unable to give specific details on whether providing allergen information would be a direct requirement for cafés and restaurants, Deputy Renouf said: ‘We are working to bring forward, by the end of this year, a modern and comprehensive Food Law for Jersey. On the back of the new law will come secondary legislation, which will cover many aspects of allergen labelling, including manufacturing, catering, restaurants and hospitality.’
He added: ‘There will be a period to allow businesses to introduce updated labelling, change menus and update advertising. Good communication, whether written or verbal, in any food business is vital to ensure allergy requirements are effectively managed.’
Earlier this month the owners of the Upstairs at Anley Street restaurant in St Helier were fined £3,000 in the Magistrate’s Court after a diner was taken to hospital suffering an allergic reaction when she was served a dish containing nuts – despite assurances that the meal did not contain them.
The owners pleaded guilty to a charge of ‘selling food which was not of the nature demanded by the purchaser’, contrary to Jersey’s food safety laws.
