Contract Catering
Contract caterers may operate within fixed locations where they can declare food allergens in a manner similar to restaurants. For functions occurring off-site, such as at a business premises or in a private home, caterers can provide the written allergen declarations at the location.
The requirement for a written allergen declaration also applies when small scale food services are provided, like sandwiches, scones or biscuits for meetings or other gatherings, e.g., a stand-alone sign adjacent to the platter of mixed sandwiches would suffice to detail the individual allergens in the various sandwich types. The same scheme could apply for individual platters of scones, pastries and croissants. However, where a mixed plate of smaller snack foods such as biscuits is provided, the written allergen declaration can relate to the food as a whole on the plate rather than to individual biscuit types. A caterer that delivers prepared food to a customer but has no other involvement, such as further preparation or serving the food, must provide the written allergen information to the purchaser. If the purchaser is a private individual and not a registered food business, it is up to them to then pass that information on to people consuming the food if they wish. However, if the caterer is providing a service for a gathering or function and is preparing and serving the food at a function or meeting, it is the caterer's obligation to ensure written allergen information is provided for the people consuming the food