{"id":27512,"date":"2018-11-30T15:30:42","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T15:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=27512"},"modified":"2018-11-30T15:30:42","modified_gmt":"2018-11-30T15:30:42","slug":"high-street-food-and-coffee-chains-provide-wrongful-allergy-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/high-street-food-and-coffee-chains-provide-wrongful-allergy-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"High street food and coffee chains provide wrong allergy advice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five of the biggest high street restaurants and coffee shop chains gave out false or misleading information on potentially deadly allergens to BBC undercover reporters.<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The BBC Watchdog team visited 30 restaurant and coffee chains, acting as ordinary customers with allergies. They asked whether specific dishes contained any of the 14 major allergens, such as celery and nuts. Five of these 30, Pizza Hut, Nando\u2019s, Frankie and Benny\u2019s, and the coffee shops Costa and Starbucks, have been exposed as giving out potentially dangerous and incorrect information.<\/p>\n

The outlets in question haven\u2019t listed any of the 14 major allergens on their menus, which leaves the customers to seek information from the staff. Any incorrect or unclear advice can potentially threaten one\u2019s life or well-being.<\/p>\n

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Triangle Picture Credit: Wikilmages on Pixabay; Text and sign graphic: Debora Kirilova;<\/p><\/div>\n

This is what each chain provided as information:<\/p>\n

Restaurants:
\n<\/strong>Pizza Hut: At one of the restaurants the server was unable to provide an answer on whether the \u2018mac and cheese\u2019 and the pepperoni pizza have mustard in them. However, on the companies online platform, it was listed that the ingredient is contained in both of the dishes. Even though the chain was in the possession of an allergy book, it didn\u2019t deliver the correct information since it was \u201cunclear\u201d for both the staff and the reporter.<\/p>\n

Nando\u2019s: When asked whether the burger contains mustard, the waiter \u2018assumed\u2019 it didn\u2019t, without double-checking with the allergen book. It turned out it actually contained the ingredient.<\/p>\n

Frankie and Benny\u2019s: At one of the restaurants, the reporter was handed an agreement to sign, acknowledging that the restaurant couldn\u2019t guarantee allergens\u2019 free dishes when the customers initially ask the staff for allergy concerning information. According to the BBC report, this type of action from the restaurant makes the customers feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

Coffee shops:
\n<\/strong>Costa: At one of its coffee shops, they thoroughly checked the allergy book on the reporter\u2019s order of mince pie. However, they told Mr Lewis it contained soya milk even though they had the knowledge it that in actual fact it was a regular one.<\/p>\n

Starbucks: Staff have assured the BBC\u2019s employee on his lemon loaf cake, that it doesn\u2019t contain nuts, but still warned him there is a risk of a small amount of nut-contamination.<\/p>\n

The investigation was conducted in only one branch of each food and coffee chains, which means its results couldn\u2019t apply to every one of their outlets. However, after the report, each of the companies provided further assurance that the raised issues would be handled, since misleading information on such matter is of great importance.<\/p>\n

List of the 14 major food allergens:<\/strong><\/p>\n