Pioneering platform gives diners direct access to allergen information

A ground-breaking centralised menu management system developed by Stoke-on-Trent based Harrison Carloss is set to offer businesses and consumers the details they need to ensure up-to-date allergen information is readily available.

As food businesses await the results of the Food Standards Agency consultation on allergen guidance issued last year, digital agency Harrison Carloss is championing its pioneering allergen.io platform as the solution to evolving legislation.

Adam Mobley at Harrison Carloss, said: “The direction of travel is clear.

“Following the implementation of Natasha’s Law for pre-packed foods, it is increasingly likely that the industry will see the introduction of regulations such as Owen’s Law, which will require written allergen information for non-prepacked foods.

“This can apply to loose items sold at a delicatessen counter, a bakery or a butcher’s as well as meals served in a restaurant and food from a takeaway.

“As a result, allergen compliance is likely to become significantly more demanding for hospitality businesses, which is why our system is designed to reduce human error.

“allergen.io also reduces the time needed for manual menu management, with data input only required into a venue’s EPOS stock system, with automatic updates applied across all platforms daily from this single source of truth.”

A fully integrated menu management platform, allergen.io ensures the latest information, including prices, calories and allergens, is updated across menus, websites and in-venue devices.

The system has a ‘basket builder’ feature allowing customers to scan a QR code, select items and view a summary of total cost, calories, macronutrients and allergens before ordering.

Diners can also filter menus by allergens and dietary preferences, accessing critical information instantly via their mobile devices, supporting safer dining and aligning with the FSA’s call for clearer, more accessible consumer information.

Adam added: “As legislation evolves, businesses will need to demonstrate not just accuracy, but consistency and traceability across every touchpoint.

“By automating updates and integrating directly with EPOS systems, we’re helping operators stay compliant, reduce human error and deliver a better, safer experience for their customers.”

Harrison Carloss developed allergen.io after identifying a growing appetite among hospitality businesses for a fully automated menu management solution to help venues and outlets get ahead of proposed changes to allergen laws in the UK.

The agency drew on its experience in developing bespoke solutions for hospitality clients such as the Parogon Group, for which Harrison Carloss created an innovative platform that integrated directly with their EPOS provider, Tevalis via their API.

Prior to the delivery of their bespoke automated system, the Parogon Group was manually managing around 1,300 dishes across its 12 Midlands venues and menus.

With costs starting from only £49 per month, allergen.io offers a cost-effective solution, particularly when weighed against the potential financial, legal and reputational consequences of allergen mismanagement.

Fines in the UK for allergen incidents are unlimited and reviewed based on severity on a case-by-case basis. They frequently exceed £40,000 if the incident involves hospitalisation. That amount of money could pay for allergen.io at one venue for 68 years. In severe cases, where gross negligence is proven, such as substituting an ingredient with an alternative that contains an unlisted allergen, the business owner can be charged with manslaughter and face up to 2 years in prison.

At a time when hospitality businesses are already being squeezed by surging operational costs, a more conservative consumer base and increases to national insurance contributions and minimum wage, allergen management should be treated as an urgent priority to protect businesses, the careers of their staff, and their customers.