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Serve Legal Partners with Anaphylaxis UK to Launch AllergyWise® Audit Programme

Written by Catriona Jolley | Oct 2, 2024 8:45:47 AM

Serve Legal Partners with Anaphylaxis UK to Launch AllergyWise® Audit Programme

This Anaphylaxis Awareness Week, Serve Legal is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with Anaphylaxis UK to deliver the Anaphylaxis UK AllergyWise® Audit Programme. This collaborative effort aims to set a new benchmark in allergen management for the hospitality industry, ensuring the highest levels of safety for customers with food allergies.

Anaphylaxis UK, the nation’s leading charity for supporting those at risk of severe allergic reactions, has long been dedicated to promoting awareness and safety in food establishments. Through the launch of the AllergyWise® Audit Programme, businesses now have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to protecting vulnerable customers and elevating allergen safety standards.

What is the AllergyWise® Audit Programme?

The AllergyWise® Audit Programme is designed to provide businesses with a comprehensive, independent compliance audit. Delivered by Serve Legal, the UK’s leading compliance audit provider, the programme offers food establishments both the insights and tools they need to strengthen their allergen management processes through detailed customer experience reports.

For businesses, participating in the AllergyWise® Audit Programme offers several key benefits:

  • Independent, nationwide site audits conducted by Serve Legal’s team of over 8,000 auditors.
  • Detailed reporting with actionable insights into allergen management practices.
  • Access to Anaphylaxis UK’s Business Membership Plus 
  • 24/7 access to a client portal, powered by Microsoft Power BI, providing tailored data and analytics.
  • Staff training and expert support from Anaphylaxis UK, ensuring your team is prepared to handle allergen-related situations.
  • Anaphylaxis UK AllergyWise® Programme certification and logo, which acts as a public assurance of your commitment to safe dining practices.

A New Standard for Allergen Safety

The AllergyWise® Audit Programme goes beyond compliance, helping businesses ensure that customers with allergies can dine with confidence. The programme includes a series of essential audit criteria, measuring how well a business meets the needs of customers with allergies:

  • Are customers proactively asked about their allergies?
  • Is allergen information provided from official, reliable sources, and is it communicated clearly?
  • Was the food served free from the customer’s stated allergens?
  • Did the customer have a positive and welcoming experience?

Alongside the standard process, we will collaborate closely with each retailer to create a fully customised audit process, tailored to their unique business needs, processes, and policies.

Serve Legal CEO, Ed Heaver, said:

"We are excited to collaborate with Anaphylaxis UK in delivering the AllergyWise® Audit Programme. Our mission is to help businesses to operate with confidence by enabling them to achieve the highest safety standards, and this initiative will play a pivotal role in reducing the risks associated with poor allergen management in the hospitality sector today. We believe that every customer should feel safe and catered for when dining out, and we are confident that this programme will help to make that a reality."

The Importance of Allergy Awareness

The announcement of the AllergyWise® Audit Programme comes at a crucial time as we enter Anaphylaxis Awareness Week. This annual campaign shines a light on the importance of allergen safety, educating businesses and the public about the severe risks associated with poor management of food allergies. By participating in the AllergyWise® Audit Programme, businesses can align themselves with this important cause and show their commitment to safer dining experiences for all.

Recent cases in the media show the imperative need for well established allergen management to avoid tragedies. As more businesses embrace this programme, Serve Legal and Anaphylaxis UK hope to see a significant reduction in allergen-related incidents, offering peace of mind to thousands of people who live with the constant threat of anaphylaxis.

Simon Williams, Chief Executive of Anaphylaxis UK, commented:

"At Anaphylaxis UK, we believe that everyone should feel safe and warmly welcomed when dining out, particularly those living with serious allergies. Through the AllergyWise® Audit Programme, we’re proud to be helping restaurants create a space where customers can dine with confidence, knowing their needs are understood and respected. By fostering a culture of proactive allergen awareness, we’re not only raising safety standards but also making dining experiences more inclusive and enjoyable for all. This Anaphylaxis Awareness Week, we encourage everyone to #WearItBright and spark important conversations around anaphylaxis."

To learn more about how your business can benefit from the AllergyWise® Audit Programme, visit our service page or contact us for more information.