Allergen Safety Labels
Food accounts for up to 80% of childhood anaphylaxis cases, making clear ingredient identification vital. Under England’s statutory DfE guidance for Benedict's Law, schools must have robust procedures for identifying allergens and providing accurate food information.
Our range of colour-coded stickers covers the 14 statutory allergens, offering a simple, highly visible way to mark meals, containers, and grab-and-go packaging.
- 14 Allergens: Covers all legally mandated food allergens.
- Highly Visible: Bright, colour-coded designs prevent school catering errors.
- DfE Aligned: Supports mandatory Benedict's Law food labelling.
Help Make Your School Safer for Pupils with Food Allergies
Food allergens can present a serious risk in schools, particularly wherever food is stored, prepared, served or consumed. Effective allergen management relies on clear procedures, good communication and strong awareness among staff and pupils.
- Schools in England are expected to strengthen their approach to allergy awareness and management as part of the Department for Education's new statutory allergy guidance linked to the introduction of Benedict's Law. This includes having clear procedures for identifying and managing allergens, reducing the risk of cross-contamination, providing accurate food information where appropriate, and raising allergy awareness.
- Clear signs, labels, posters and record-keeping tools provide a simple and affordable way to support these procedures. Used alongside staff training, supervision and a wider allergy safety policy, they can help make good allergen management part of everyday school life.
WHY ALLERGEN SAFETY MATTERS IN SCHOOLS
Food-induced allergic reactions can be extremely serious. In busy school kitchens, dining halls, classrooms and food technology areas, mistakes such as poor ingredient identification, shared utensils or inadequate separation can increase the risk of allergen cross-contact.
Effective allergen management helps schools create consistent processes for identifying allergens and communicating important information. Visual prompts and simple record-keeping tools can reinforce those processes at the point where they matter most.
· Improve allergen awareness among staff and pupils
· Help reduce the risk of allergen cross-contact
· Reinforce staff training and agreed procedures
· Keep important allergen information visible
· Encourage more consistent food preparation and handling practices
· Support a wider whole-school approach to allergy safety
HOW OUR ALLERGEN SAFETY PRODUCTS HELP
The range is designed to support different stages of allergen management rather than relying on a single solution.
1. Identify - Use labels, posters and recipe records to make allergen information easier to identify.
2. Separate - Clearly mark designated storage, utensils and preparation areas to support separation procedures.
3. Prepare - Position signs and visual guidance where staff prepare food to reinforce agreed working practices.
4. Record - Use recipe cards and food safety records to document ingredients, allergens and key checks.
5. Communicate - Keep important information visible so staff can quickly reference procedures and allergen details.
6. Serve - Support consistent processes from preparation through to service as part of the school's wider allergen management approach.
Know the 14 Allergens
Clear identification of the 14 regulated allergens is an important part of effective allergen management. Posters, labels and signs can help keep this information visible wherever food is stored, prepared and served.
Molluscs
Crustaceans
Lupin
Celery
Egg
Mustard
Peanut
Sulphur Dioxide
Sesame
Treenuts
Molluscs
Fish
Soybean
Milk
SUPPORTING SCHOOL ALLERGEN MANAGEMENT
Practical Tools to Support a Wider Allergy Safety Policy
Signs, labels, posters and food safety records should not be presented as a replacement for training, supervision or documented procedures. Their value is in helping schools put those procedures into everyday practice by keeping information and reminders visible at the point of use.
The Department for Education's school allergy guidance provides the wider context for strengthening allergy awareness and management in schools. Food Standards Agency guidance and resources also provide an important basis for good allergen and food safety practices.
Natasha's Law provides additional context around accurate allergen information for foods that are Prepacked for Direct Sale (PPDS). Where applicable, PPDS foods must carry the name of the food and a full ingredients list with regulated allergens emphasised.
Allergen Safety Labels
Make allergen information easier to identify
Clear labels can help staff distinguish designated ingredients, equipment, storage areas and preparation zones quickly, supporting more consistent allergen management.
- Supports clear identification at the point of use
- Helps reinforce separation procedures
- Simple to introduce into existing kitchen processes
- Useful across storage, preparation and service areas
FAQs
- Why is allergen management important in schools?
Schools may cater for pupils with food allergies, so clear procedures for identifying allergens, preventing cross-contact and communicating food information form an important part of a wider allergy safety approach.
- How can signs and posters help?
- Are allergen signs required by the new school allergy guidance?
- Where should allergen safety products be used?
- What is the difference between allergy safety and allergen safety?
- What are the 14 regulated allergens?