Allergy Rules Should Be Tightened for Restaurants, Says FSA

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is urging the government to make it compulsory for restaurants to print allergy information on menus, in a bid to better inform consumers and limit the risk of extreme allergic reactions.

There is currently no legal requirement for businesses to make…

Jan 24, 2024

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There is currently no legal requirement for businesses to make allergens known to customers in print, although FSA guidance recommends they do this.

In an effort to mobilise the hospitality sector into listing allergens on menus, the FSA now wants written information to be a legal requirement and conversations between staff and customers regarding allergens to be standard practice.

At present, food businesses are required by law to provide allergen information and follow labelling rules. The law says that they must provide allergen information to their customers, handle and manage food allergens effectively in food preparation, and tell customers if any food they provide contains any of the 14 allergens that are required to be declared as allergens by food law.

Inducements to Forego Participation in Trade Union Activities – ET Ruling

Workers have a right not to have offers made to them which have the sole or main purpose of inducing them not to participate in trade union activities. An outsourcing company found that out to its cost after making a trade union activist a tempting offer of a transfer to a new workplace at a higher rate of pay. The man worked at government-owned premises where the company was contracted to provide cleaning services. He had an active and high-profile role in an independent trade union and had in…

‘Cheeky Monkey’ Comment a Racial Slur in a Workplace Context, ET Rules

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Trade Union Settled Employment Dispute Without Member’s Authority

When trade unions negotiate settlements of employment disputes, employers usually assume that they are acting with the authority of their members. As an Employment Tribunal (ET) ruling showed, however, there is a difference between an assumption and a certainty. The case concerned a healthcare assistant who, throughout a redundancy process, was advised by her trade union. After she and others lost their jobs, the trade union negotiated with their employer via Acas. A full and final settlement,…