Worried about managing dietary requirements when eating out? Tell staff before you order, ask for written allergen information, and talk through your needs. That mirrors the FSA’s March 2025 best practice guidance.
This page is part of the food and dining guide, which collects restaurant topics in one place.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Adults with a food hypersensitivity who eat out or get takeaway at least once a month | 83% |
| Those who eat out or get takeaway and had a reaction or near miss in the last six months | About half |
| Food businesses that give allergen information both in writing and verbally | 62% |
| Adults with a food hypersensitivity who feel comfortable asking for allergen information | 72% |
| Adults with a food hypersensitivity who see staff as knowledgeable about allergens | 50% |
| FSA best practice guidance on allergen information issued | March 2025 |
The figures come from FSA-commissioned surveys, set out in the key findings report and the consumer experiences report, both published in October 2025. Figures can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
What the research says about eating out with a food hypersensitivity
The FSA’s consumer research surveyed 964 people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 780 adults with a food hypersensitivity (FHS) and 184 parents of children with one. Ipsos UK ran the online survey from 13 December 2024 to 5 February 2025, ahead of the FSA’s March 2025 guidance.
These surveys measure hypersensitivities, so they say nothing about preferences such as vegetarian or religious diets. The habits below still show how communication with venues works in practice.
Most people in the survey eat out often: 83% of adults with an FHS eat out or get takeaway at least once a month. Many still take careful steps, which the report lists as:
- checking online menus in advance;
- checking written allergen information;
- asking staff about allergens when ordering;
- deciding what to have beforehand;
- ordering only from businesses they have used before and trust, or ordering food they have had before.
Caution does not remove risk. The same report found that around half of those who eat out or get takeaway had an adverse reaction or near miss in the last six months, and that a notable minority were asked to sign disclaimers or were refused service.
Before you go: preparing for your meal
Preparation is what many people in the survey already do, so build it into your routine.
- Look at the venue’s online menu and any written allergen information.
- Decide on a shortlist of dishes before you arrive, where you can.
- Where possible, favour places you have used before and trust.
- Take extra care with online and distance orders.
That last step matters because the FSA report found confidence in avoiding problem ingredients is generally lower when food is ordered digitally or by distance selling.
The format of your meal can also change how much choice you have. For help weighing up your options, read the guide to set menu vs a la carte.
At the table: what to say and ask
As UKHospitality reported on 5 March 2025, the FSA’s guidance says written allergen information should always be available, supported by dialogue between servers and customers about allergen requirements. You can use both halves of that.
- State your requirement clearly when you sit down or place your order.
- Ask to see the written allergen information for the dish you want.
- Talk it through with the server, and say so again if you change your order.
Asking for both matters because, according to the consumer research, only a minority of consumers are given written and verbal communication together. People are also more likely to disclose a hypersensitivity when staff or signage prompt them.
Prompts are not guaranteed. The key findings report says a quarter of adults with an FHS did not see allergen information the last time they ate out or got takeaway, and 46% recalled seeing a sign or message about how to get it. Just over half (52%) were asked about allergens at their most recent purchase.
Why does asking staff feel so awkward?
Many people find it hard to raise the subject. The FSA findings show 72% feel comfortable asking for allergen information, 18% do not, and 38% feel awkward or embarrassed asking staff about the food they serve.
Staff knowledge adds to the doubt. Although 97% of businesses report giving staff allergen training and information, only 50% of adults with an FHS see staff as knowledgeable when asked about allergens, per the same report.
Consumers generally feel more confident in written information than in what staff tell them verbally. Treat the written information as your anchor and use the conversation to confirm it.
Availability is also uneven. Only 10% of adults with an FHS say they can always get the allergen information they need, though just 4% say they can never or hardly ever get it.
Dietary requirements: what food businesses report providing
The survey of food service workers gives a picture of what you can reasonably expect:
- 97% of businesses report providing allergen information;
- 94% provide it in writing, and 32% rely solely on writing;
- 65% provide it verbally, and just 3% rely only on speaking;
- 62% provide it both in writing and verbally.
Awareness of the rules is patchier. As of the FSA’s October 2025 consumer research, 72% of adults with an FHS had heard of the legal requirement for businesses to provide allergen information. Fewer than half (43%) said they know quite a lot or a bit about it, and 27% of adults with an FHS had not heard of it.
UKHospitality said the guidance leaves room for different formats. Its chief executive, Kate Nicholls, said some venues may prefer a digital format, so do not be surprised if the written information is on a screen. For more detail, see the page on allergen information in restaurants UK.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to tell staff about my requirements?
Show answer
Disclosure is inconsistent, according to the FSA’s consumer research, and people are more likely to disclose when staff or signage prompt them. Telling staff gives them the chance to share the written information and talk it through with you.
Is written allergen information better than asking staff?
Show answer
Consumers report more confidence in written information than in verbal information. The FSA’s guidance, as reported by UKHospitality on 5 March 2025, pairs the two, so ask for both.
What if I am asked to sign a disclaimer?
Show answer
The FSA research records this as a challenge faced by a notable minority, but the sources do not give advice on how to respond. You can still ask for the written allergen information and a conversation about your requirements.
Does this research cover vegan, vegetarian or religious diets?
Show answer
No. The surveys covered adults with a food hypersensitivity and parents of children with one, so the figures here do not describe other kinds of dietary requirement.
