Food allergy affects between 4% and 8% of the child population, according to data from the Spanish Society of Clinical Immunology, Allergology and Pediatric Asthma (SEICAP), and despite the fact that affected families do tend to be clear about what children can or cannot take, that information, in the food they serve, does not It is so clear to the hoteliers.
Thus, pediatricians demand allergen training for hospitality professionals, a complement to the novelties brought by food labeling in the European Union from now on.
A few weeks ago we told you that one of the changes brought by the new food labeling (European Regulation 1169/2011) is the information on allergens, a regulation affects any establishment that provides packaged and unpackaged foods, such as hospitality or hospitals.
But many professionals dedicated to hospitality and catering ignore this regulation and it would be important to disseminate it among all those catering establishments, their managers and the staff that works for the public. In this way it would be possible inform families with total security guarantee.
It seems logical that professionals who work in contact with potential allergic children in restaurants, hospitals, school canteens or shops have minimal knowledge about food allergies.
Therefore, although allergist pediatricians believe that the new regulation is a step forward in food safety, it could still be easier for children and their families, the clear identification of allergens that are included (or not) in food, menus ...
In other words, apart from making the information on the content of the food and products dispensed in writing or in digital format available to the staff and the final consumer, it can also be communicated orally.
Other of the claims made by SEICAP is that the list of 14 allergens that the new labeling of packaged foods must include and that are included be extended icons for easy recognition by children with food allergies.
These are undoubtedly quite logical proposals and hopefully come true soon, as they can serve to avoid anaphylaxis crisis by reaction to a food, which children often suffer when they eat out. And in these cases you can not lower your guard for a moment ...
