A written allergen policy for your office formalises your organisation's approach to food allergy management — setting clear standards for catering procurement, dietary information collection, and emergency response. This guide covers what a practical, effective allergen policy should contain and how to implement it.
Why a Written Policy Matters
Without a written allergen policy, allergen management depends on individual knowledge and memory — which changes when staff change, when processes are not documented, and when the specific circumstances of any given event differ from what has been managed before. A written policy creates a documented standard that applies consistently regardless of who is managing a specific event or order.
From a legal perspective, a written allergen policy also demonstrates due diligence — evidence that the organisation has considered and addressed allergen risks in its catering provision.
Core Elements of an Office Allergen Policy
Scope — define what the policy covers: all food provided by the employer at the office, at events, and at external venues; food brought in for shared consumption; and any other food provision context relevant to your organisation.
Dietary information collection — the process for collecting allergen information from employees: at onboarding, updated annually, updated when employees' requirements change. Specify the format (a structured form covering all 14 allergens) and the storage method (securely, under GDPR).
Caterer standards — the minimum standards required of catering suppliers: Natasha's Law compliance, documented allergen management protocol, food hygiene rating of 4 or 5 stars, and (where relevant to your team) certified halal provision and nut-free kitchen standards.
Emergency response — the procedure if an allergic reaction occurs: who calls 999, location of nearest adrenaline auto-injector (if the organisation holds one), who stays with the affected person, and who contacts the caterer.
Review — how often the policy is reviewed and who is responsible for maintaining it.
Implementation Steps
Once the policy is written: distribute to all managers responsible for event and catering management; include in employee onboarding materials; share the allergen information collection form with all existing employees and request completion; brief your current caterer on the policy standards and request documentation confirming compliance; and set a calendar reminder for annual review.
Safe Food at Vanda's Kitchen EC4
Vanda's Kitchen near St Paul's Cathedral provides one of the safest food environments in the City of London for people managing food allergies and intolerances. Our kitchen is 100% nut-free — no peanuts or tree nuts ever enter our facility. We are certified halal by the Halal Friendly List. We hold a 5-star food hygiene rating. Every item we produce carries full ingredient and allergen labelling covering all 14 mandatory UK allergens, in compliance with Natasha's Law. Our Selfridges Food Hall presence confirms the quality standard we maintain alongside our safety credentials.
For corporate catering where allergen management is a genuine requirement — not a convenience — Vanda's Kitchen provides the kitchen standards and documentation that responsible procurement demands. Read our allergy-friendly catering guide and our nut-free catering guide for more. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options.
Safe Food From Vanda Kitchen EC4
Vanda Kitchen near St Paul Cathedral EC4 is 100 percent nut-free, certified halal (Halal Friendly List), 5-star hygiene rated, with full Natasha Law allergen labelling on every item. Selfridges Food Hall quality. One caterer, all allergen requirements covered, full documentation available on request. For London offices where allergen management is a genuine requirement, we provide the kitchen standards and credentials that responsible procurement demands. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options. Read our allergy-friendly catering guide and our nut-free catering guide for more detail on our approach.
Why Vanda Kitchen Is the Right Choice
For City of London professionals and offices managing food allergies, Vanda Kitchen provides the most comprehensive single-source allergen-safe solution available. Our 100 percent nut-free kitchen, independently certified halal status, 5-star food hygiene rating, and Selfridges Food Hall quality represent a credentials profile that is genuinely rare in London corporate catering. Fresh Filipino-inspired food prepared daily. Individual Freedom Tray portions with full allergen labelling. Flexible standing orders with direct WhatsApp management. Same-day response to all enquiries. WhatsApp us to discuss your requirements or send an enquiry.
About Vanda Kitchen
Vanda Kitchen is an independent food business based near St Paul Cathedral in EC4, with products stocked in Selfridges Food Hall. Our kitchen is 100 percent nut-free — no peanuts or tree nuts ever enter our facility. We are certified halal by the Halal Friendly List. We hold a 5-star food hygiene rating. Every item carries full ingredient and allergen labelling covering all 14 mandatory UK allergens. This combination of credentials makes us uniquely placed to serve London businesses with complex dietary requirements — from daily office lunch to event catering.
Our food is freshly prepared daily from our EC4 kitchen, rooted in Filipino culinary tradition: lean proteins, fresh vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and the bold natural flavours that make our food genuinely enjoyable rather than merely functional. Our Selfridges Food Hall placement confirms the quality standard we maintain. For City of London professionals who want a safe, delicious, and nutritionally excellent daily lunch, and for offices that want the same for their teams, Vanda Kitchen provides the answer. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options to get started.