Foods listed on TikTok Shop exclude key allergen information

CIEH President says it is “critical” that these emerging issues are tackled quickly to ensure the UK food system is future-proofed and consumers are protected

Social media companies should do more to protect consumers say experts, after a BBC investigation revealed many listings on TikTok Shop — the platform’s ecommerce feature — failed to include allergen information.

UK businesses are legally required to disclose whether their products contain any of the 14 main allergens, but the investigation found many listings lacked this information. One product failed to list milk or wheat as ingredients, while a Squid Game-related treat marked ingredients and allergens as "not applicable".

When notified, TikTok removed the offending listing, highlighting their policies and processes which ensure the safety of food and beverages sold on their platform. However, food is still being sold without ingredient or allergy information, prompting experts and allergy charities to call for additional measures to safeguard consumers.

Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Advisor to the FSA said: “It’s difficult for consumers to tell the difference between products made for the UK and those that aren’t, if you have a food allergy or intolerance, we advise that you do not buy the product unless you’re certain it’s intended for sale here.”

May cites the example of imported Dubai-style chocolate bars, a milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling, which “don’t meet our standards and could be a food safety risk, especially for consumers with allergies.” Such products often lack a full ingredients list or allergen labelling and may contain additives and colours prohibited in the UK.

“Every day, these families rely on accurate food labelling to make safe food choices; this isn’t a ‘nice to have’, people’s lives depend on it.”

Katharine Carpenter, Co-founder of The Allergy Team said: “Around 2.4 million people in the UK are living with a food allergy and allergic disease is the most common chronic medical condition in children. Every day, these families rely on accurate food labelling to make safe food choices; this isn’t a ‘nice to have’, people’s lives depend on it.”

Carpenter said although people with allergies “would naturally steer clear of buying food online if the ingredients aren’t listed, it’s easy to make a mistake or trust food labels which are incomplete or inaccurate.”

Tanya Thomas, Registered Dietitian and British Dietetic Association (BDA) spokesperson said: “Buying food promoted on TikTok without accurate allergy labelling is a risk, potentially endangering the health of those with allergies. Although the responsibility lies with the seller to provide clear and accurate allergen information, online platforms should verify seller compliance.”

Professor Adam Fox OBE, Consultant Paediatric Allergist and Chair of the National Allergy Strategy Group said: “People with food allergies need to know what is in the food they eat in order to stay safe. We’d like to see social media being held to the same standard as other food retailers in the UK but if there is any doubt, it’s probably sensible for people with severe food allergies to avoid purchasing food from anywhere that isn’t trusted.”

Mark Elliott, President of CIEH, said the investigation “highlights a growing issue as more and more people buy food…directly from sellers on social media where adherence to UK food safety legislation may not be as robust as it should be.”

Elliott said it is critical that these “emerging issues within the UK food system are tackled sooner rather than later to ensure it is future-proofed to protect consumers and ensure no corners are cut by these new types of food businesses.”