The Allergy Aware pilot program is a joint project with the NSW Food Authority, Food Regulation Partnership and two local councils, and has the support of industry bodies such as Restaurant & Catering NSW/ACT. It is running in self selected food service businesses in the City of Canada Bay and Orange City council areas from October 2007.

It involves research into businesses’ attitudes and practice around managing food allergies for diners, training in how to improve both attitudes and practice, and materials to help businesses do this.

The program includes a half-day workshop for food businesses, educating them about   handling, preparing and labelling food for customers with specific dietary requirements due to allergies. Businesses which complete the program will be able to display an Allergy Aware logo.

Plans are under way to extend the program to food businesses across NSW.

See www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/allergies.asp for more information.