Cornwall wedding cake supplier prosecution highlights dangers of poor allergen management

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has urged food businesses to register with their local authority and ensure they comply fully with food safety and allergen regulations, following the prosecution of a wedding cake supplier in Cornwall.

This follows the case where a wedding cake containing plastic layers and potentially containing deadly nut traces led to the baker being prosecuted by Cornwall Council – full details of the case here.

Claire Lucas, Food Safety Manager and CIEH member, said:

“This case is a stark reminder that food businesses have a fundamental responsibility to protect the health and safety of their customers. Anyone operating a food business must ensure they are properly registered with their local authority and understand and comply with their legal food safety responsibilities.

“Effective allergen management is a vital part of this. Food businesses must have the appropriate knowledge and training to manage allergens safely and provide customers with clear, accurate information about allergens in the food they sell. For someone living with a severe food allergy, getting this information wrong can have life-threatening consequences.

“With the rapid growth in small food businesses and so-called ‘dark kitchens’ - delivery-only food operations with no customer-facing storefront - CIEH is concerned that businesses operating outside the regulatory system could be putting consumers at unnecessary risk by failing to register with their local authority and comply with essential food safety and allergen requirements.

“Good food safety and allergen management not only protects customers from harm but also helps businesses protect their reputation and maintain the trust and confidence of the people they serve.”

CIEH offers food businesses both online and in-person training around food safety and food allergen awareness. More information here: https://www.cieh.org/training-and-courses/ 

People can confirm whether a business is registered and see any Food Hygiene Rating by visiting: https://ratings.food.gov.uk 

New food businesses can register with their local authority here: https://register.food.gov.uk/new 

*image courtesy of Cornwall Council