New EU rules that will force restaurants to inform customers linked to 14 food allergies Saturday Dec 13,2014

TV food experts have clashed over new £200million EU red tape rules which force restaurants to provide details of any dishes containing one or more of 14 different allergens.

From Saturday Dec 13,2014 restaurants will be required to identify which of their dishes contain the allergens, which range from gluten to soya, milk, mustard, sesame, lupin and sulphur dioxide.

The industry estimates the new rules have created a punishing bill of £200million for restaurants and the catering industry in order to help the tiny minority of people who have an allergy.

The legislation is a huge step forward for those with allergies, who should now feel confident they have a right to ask about allergenic ingredients in the foods they buy.

THE 14 ALLERGENS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE IDENTIFIED BY RESTAURANTS AND LABELLED ON PACKS

1. Gluten containing cereals

2. Crustaceans

3. Molluscs

4. Fish

5. Peanuts

6. Lupin

7. Tree Nuts (such as walnut, hazelnut, almond etc.)

8. Soya

9. Eggs

10. Milk

11. Celery

12. Mustard

13. Sesame

14. Sulphur dioxide

Its research found that seven in 10 of those with