PREVRA Allergen Control SOP: Managing the 14 Regulated Allergens in Your Kitchen
A complete standard operating procedure covering allergen receipt, storage, preparation, cleaning, and communication. Essential for Natasha's Law compliance and EHO inspection readiness.
Why allergen control needs a written SOP in every UK food business
Allergen incidents are the fastest route to a zero-rated hygiene score or, worse, a fatality. Under Natasha's Law, any food pre-packed for direct sale must carry a full ingredients list with allergens emphasised. But the law only works if your kitchen controls are tight enough that the label is accurate.
An allergen control SOP turns vague intentions into specific, auditable steps: how allergens are received and stored separately, which colour-coded equipment is used for which allergen group, when and how surfaces are cleaned between allergen and non-allergen preparation, and who signs off each shift.
Without a written SOP, your team relies on memory — and memory fails under pressure. The EHO will ask to see this document. It is one of the most scrutinised parts of any inspection.
Implementing your allergen control SOP in daily kitchen operations
Print the SOP and post it in prep areas, not filed away in a folder. Every new starter should sign that they have read and understood it before their first shift. Review it quarterly — menus change, suppliers change, and your controls must keep pace.
The SOP covers the full workflow: delivery checks (are allergen-containing ingredients labelled and intact?), segregated storage (dedicated shelves, sealed containers, clear labelling), preparation (separate utensils, colour-coded boards, scheduling allergen-free prep first), and cleaning (validated allergen cleaning between tasks).
Digital SFBB lets you attach your SOP to daily opening checks so every shift lead confirms compliance before service begins. Allergen control becomes a logged, timestamped activity rather than a hope.
Prevra · Early access
Prevra is building a digital SFBB app.
The app is not ready yet. See the planned features and contact us about early access.
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