Restaurants and fast-food outlets in Swansea called on to take allergies linked to certain foods seriously.
The call to businesses in the city follows action taken by Swansea Council’s Trading Standards Team, which has seen two Swansea food business fined by Swansea Magistrates at the beginning of September, for placing unsafe food on the market for consumption.
Posing as customers, officers in the Council’s Trading Standards Team placed food orders with both restaurants, declaring they were allergic to specific food ingredients (egg) and asked the businesses to reassure them that their order did not contain those ingredients.
On both occasions, the businesses reassured the customer that the meal they ordered did not contain the ingredients, which could prove harmful to them if eaten.
However, when the food orders were collected, it was discovered that the meals included egg.
Zalil Ahmed, owner of Indian Spice, Carmarthen Road, pleaded guilty to two offences under the General Food Regulations 2004. Mr Ahmed was fined £585 and ordered to pay a £234 surcharge and £1000 costs.
Shahin Ahmed of Shahin Tandoori, Cae Bricks Road, Cwmbwrla also pleaded guilty to one offence under the General Food Regulations 2004 and was fined £833 and ordered to pay £333 surcharge and £1000 costs.
Restaurants and takeaways in Swansea are provided with information by Swansea Council, which lists 14 allergens that need to be considered when serving food. Staff are also required to be trained and be fully aware of these allergens so that customers are protected.
The list of 14 include ingredients such as egg, nuts, milk, fish and sesame seeds, all of which could prove fatal to someone that has an allergy to them and consumes them by mistake.
David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Corporate Service and performance, said: “Some food businesses in the city are still not doing what is expected of them in relation to allergens and keeping consumers safe.
“Food allergies can be very serious for a small percentage of people and if they inform a food business they are allergic to specific ingredients, they need to have confidence that the business they are dealing with will keep them safe.
“Trading Standards are continuing to work with food businesses, providing advice and training in relation to allergies. This latest action is part of an ongoing sampling exercise.
“Hopefully, the latest action taken against local food businesses that are putting people at risk, will send out a strong message to other restaurants and takeaways, that they need to be more responsible or they will risk similar enforcement action.”
