I have lived with life-threatening food allergies since infancy, and now have a son with allergies of his own. I’ve experienced numerous reactions when eating out that could easily have been prevented, and have been forced to forego shared meals on many occasions for fear of the consequences, and I know this is a reality for many Australians. 

In many European countries, even small restaurants clearly display allergens on menus and staff are trained to handle allergy requests. I am calling for the same in Australia: national standards for allergen labelling on menus and mandatory staff training to protect people with medically necessary food restrictions.

The recent news about James Tsindos who tragically passed away from anaphylaxis in 2021 is a sobering reminder of how urgently Australia needs clearer and enforceable food allergen regulations. 

Let’s make sure our kids can grow up in a country where eating out doesn’t come with a side of fear.

— Olivia Lannan 

. . . 

Many Australians live with life-threatening food allergies, coeliac disease, and other medically diagnosed conditions that require strict dietary avoidance, yet our current system leaves them vulnerable every time they eat out. Unlike in much of Europe, where menus are formatted with consistent allergen keys and staff are trained to handle dietary requests, Australia has no consistent standard for allergen labelling or staff education.

While packaged food labelling is regulated (though precautionary “may contains” statements remain at the discretion of manufacturers) hospitality settings lack even basic consistent allergen disclosure standards. Too often, allergen information is unavailable, unclear, or dependent on individual staff knowledge. In situations where anaphylaxis is a risk, this is not a matter of preference or convenience. It is a matter of life and death.

Too often, restaurants use disclaimers like “we cannot guarantee against cross-contamination” in place of implementing proper allergen and cross-contamination management procedures, leaving people like me and my son at real risk and preventing families from participating in some of the most ordinary activities, like enjoying a meal out together.

We are calling for national standards that require all food establishments to clearly label priority allergens on menus and implement mandatory staff training. This is a simple, achievable reform that would allow Australians with food allergies to dine out safely, confidently, and without fear.

By signing this petition, you are helping ensure that all Australians can access safe and inclusive dining experiences. 

What would this look like?

A standardized allergen key to appear on all restaurant and café menus, clearly indicating which priority allergens are present in each dish (for example, P = peanuts, E = egg, D = dairy, F = fish, S = sesame). This should be coupled with a written record of ingredients available on customer request to support people with less common allergens and other dietary requirements.

A blueprint for implementing these changes already exists: European countries have had regulations like this in place for years that can serve as a practical model for Australia

Combined with mandatory staff training, this would ensure that all food handlers understand the seriousness of allergies and can answer questions accurately. This piece of the puzzle is also already available: the National Allergy Council’s Food Allergy Aware Food Service Program is a free resource that teaches venue staff how to safely manage food allergies. Mandating this training would mean that customers could make safe choices without anxiety, and restaurants would have a simple, consistent system to follow, reducing risk for everyone and preventing the need for vague disclaimers when cross-contact is avoidable.