From the experts at SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Managing Allergens in Care Homes
By Sophia Cornelius, Development Dietitian at Wiltshire Farm Foods Professional
Allergens are extremely prevalent in the UK with an estimated 41 million people, and rising, living with one or more allergy1
.
Whilst there are many types of allergies, food is one of the most widely recognised with three-quarters of care homes reporting that one in four of their residents require allergen- free meals. It is essential that care homes have a robust allergy management policy in place to ensure the health and safety of residents. This policy should include procedures for identifying residents with food allergies upon admission, documenting their allergies, and implementing measures to prevent cross- contamination and accidental exposure. The food standards agency (FSA) state that a resident’s dietary needs should be documented in their care plan and processes put in place to ensure their needs are communicated to those serving the food. One way to reduce risk of a resident having an allergic
reaction is through comprehensive staff training on food allergies, including how to recognise symptoms of an allergic reaction, how to read food labels effectively, and how to handle
and prepare allergen-free meals safely (avoiding cross- contamination). Cross-contamination poses significant risk for residents with
severe allergies. Cross-contamination is when a ‘safe food’ has been exposed to an allergen containing food and can occur at any point when food is being handled, including preparation, cooking, storage and serving. Therefore, it can be challenging to avoid, especially if homes are scratch cooking for many residents with varying dietary needs and allergies. In the recent Nourishing Lives research report conducted by
apetito and Care England, it was found that 40% of homes worry about contamination of food when it comes to preparation and that preparing individual dishes to the highest level of food safety was time-consuming. Using pre-prepared meals can help to mitigate some of these
risks for care homes as they will have been produced in a strictly controlled environment, safely packed, and labelled – providing a safe and more convenient option when catering for diverse dietary needs.
Our Free From Range of Meals
Our Free From range offers meals that are safe for residents that need to avoid one or more of the 14 major allergens without having to compromise on the quality or enjoyment of the meal. From a Free From Sweet & Sour Chicken to a Free From Roast Beef in Gravy, we have got a wide selection to ensure that residents don’t need to miss out on their favourite dishes.
All of the meals in this range are free from the following:
Soya, Mustard, Gluten, Celery, Sesame, Peanuts, Sulphites, Nuts, Lupin, Fish, Crustacean, Egg, Mollusc, and Milk (and all products produced or derived from milk). The dishes are also made without both onion and garlic. For added peace of mind, every batch of these meals is
tested in our dedicated approved allergen laboratory before being sold, providing assurance that the strict standards required are always achieved.
1. Allergy UK: National Charity [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 19]. Available from:
https://www.allergyuk.org/about-allergy/
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