Why Strong Allergen Processes Matter More Than Ever — And What the Rainforest Café Case Really Teaches Us
When news broke that the former Rainforest Café in London had been fined £45,000 after a young child with a wheat allergy was hospitalised, the headlines focused on the “gluten-free mix-up”.
But when you look closer, this wasn’t about someone giving the wrong information at the table.
This was a system failure.
A process failure.
A procedures failure.
And that’s what every food business needs to take from this case.
Westminster City Council’s investigation found:
Gluten-free and regular buns stored together
No separate equipment for gluten-free preparation
No allergen-control procedures
No HACCP documentation
When you strip it back, the problem wasn’t communication, it was the absence of a safe operating model.
This is exactly where many food establishments unintentionally expose themselves. Not through bad intent, but because day-to-day pressures take over, documentation slides, and processes slowly become “we’ve always done it this way”.
But the law doesn’t see it that way. And neither do customers, especially those living with life-threatening allergies.
Since the Food Standards Agency released its updated Industry Guidance for Food Allergen Information in the Out-of-Home Sector (March 2025), expectations have shifted.
The FSA now encourages businesses to:
Have clear, documented allergen management procedures
Maintain separation, controls, and traceability
Ensure every team member understands and follows the correct steps
Communicate allergen information proactively — before the customer even asks
This is reinforced by the direction of travel with Owen’s Law, where allergen information at the point of order is expected to become mandatory.
In short:
You can’t rely on memory, assumptions, or verbal checks alone. Allergen management must be multi-staged, documented, and consistent.
Strong allergen management doesn’t come from one action — it comes from a series of actions that support each other:
Recipe control
Clear ingredients, allergens, and supplier updates.
Preparation procedures
Separation, colour-coded equipment, and HACCP alignment.
Service controls
Accurate information presented before an order is placed.
Staff confidence
Everyone—from chefs to weekend FOH staff—knows the correct steps.
Ongoing documentation
Auditable records that protect your business during inspections and investigations.
When even one of these breaks down, risk increases.
The Rainforest Café case is a painful reminder of what happens when none of them exist.
This is exactly why Allergen Checker was created, not as a communication tool, but as a process tool.
A structured, consistent workflow that supports the multi-stage approach the FSA expects.
Our platform helps food businesses:
Store recipes, ingredients and allergens in one accurate source of truth
Generate QR-coded menus showing all allergens and ingredients proactively
Update allergen information instantly when recipes or suppliers change
Produce labels and allergen icons to organise prep areas
Maintain full traceability and documentation for inspections
Allergen Checker isn’t here to replace your processes — it’s here to strengthen them, align them with FSA guidance, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks on a busy shift.
The Rainforest Café case shows the consequences of not having robust allergen procedures in place.
And with the latest FSA guidance, and Owen’s Law on the horizon, the pressure on businesses to demonstrate proactive, documented allergen control has never been higher.
Now is the time to:
Review your procedures
Strengthen your documentation
Make allergen information visible at every stage
Put systems in place that protect both your customers and your business
Allergen Checker offers a free entry-level package covering 50 dishes and one menu — ideal for putting proper structure in place without cost barriers.
Start here: allergenchecker.co.uk