FSA Northern Ireland launches 'MenuCal' a tool to record allergen information

The current UK and EU food information legislation requires mandatory allergenic ingredients declarations for a defined list of foods known to provoke severe allergic reactions. Especially those which cause severe reactions at low levels and commonly trigger food hypersensitivities such as milk, egg, fish, mustard, peanuts, lactose, and cereals containing gluten. 

From 1 October 2021, there will be new requirements for allergen declarations for pre-packed foods for direct sale (PPDS) in the UK. It will be mandatorily required for all food producers to provide the name of the food and a full ingredients declaration, including highlighting the presence of food allergens, directly on the package or on a label attached to the packaging. These changes are intended to improve the availability of essential food allergen information to help people with a food allergy or intolerance to make safe choices when purchasing pre-packed foods. 
 

To help food businesses comply with legal requirements to manage and record allergen information, FSA Northern Ireland has developed the MenuCal tool. MenuCal has been developed for food businesses in Northern Ireland to help you identify, manage and communicate required allergen information and calculate and display Calories on your menus. It can also be used to calculate the amount of energy in food and drink on the menu. This enables consumers to make more informed and healthier choices when eating out.

MenuCal has been developed with the input of chefs, caterers and small business owners. It is a free, practical, and easy-to-use tool. It can be accessed online using a computer, tablet, or phone and stores information safely and securely.