Schools and Multi-Academy Trusts are rightly very familiar with the importance of managing allergens and complying with Natasha’s Law within their catering services. Protecting pupils with food allergies isn’t optional – it’s a legal, moral and operational responsibility. But while most schools understand what needs to be done, it’s often how allergens are managed day to day that makes the real difference.
For many schools and Trusts, particularly those managing catering in-house, allergen management can quickly become complex and time consuming. From checking new menus and dishes, to reviewing supplier changes, reformulations and product ranges, keeping allergen information accurate and up to date is a constant challenge.
The question isn’t whether you take allergen management seriously – it’s whether your current processes are as efficient, robust and future-proof as they could be.
The growing pressure on in-house catering teams
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students is at the heart of every school’s responsibility – and that includes managing food allergens effectively and accurately.
With allergen legislation becoming more stringent and parental expectations continuing to rise, catering teams are under increasing pressure to deliver absolute clarity and consistency. The Food Information Regulations require that 14 specific allergens must be clearly declared by law – including common ingredients such as celery, eggs, fish, mustard, sesame seeds, nuts and milk.
Managing and communicating this information accurately takes time, care and precision. For in-house teams relying on spreadsheets, manual checks or disconnected systems, the administrative burden can be significant – and the risk of error ever-present.
Why systems matter – not just policies
Every time a supplier changes a product, a recipe is updated or a new dish is introduced, allergen data needs to be reviewed and rechecked. Multiply that across multiple schools or a growing Trust, and the workload quickly escalates.
This is where having a purpose-built system can transform allergen management – turning it from a reactive, manual task into a streamlined, reliable process.
Introducing Litmus Edge
Created specifically for the education sector, Litmus Edge is our specialist in-house food procurement and catering management system that brings everything together on one innovative platform.
Designed to revolutionise the way schools run their in-house food operations, Litmus Edge supports every aspect of catering management – including allergen control – in a way that is clear, compliant and efficient.
By centralising recipes, supplier data and allergen information in one place, Litmus Edge helps schools de-risk their food service and build confidence among staff, students and parents alike.
The system:
- Automates allergen tracking across menus and recipes
- Links recipes directly to live supplier nutritional and allergen data
- Generates compliant labels and reports instantly
- Keeps allergen information accurate and up to date in real time
Allergen-linked recipes
One of the standout features of Litmus Edge is its extensive recipe functionality.
Schools can access over 4,000 preloaded recipes, each linked directly to verified supplier nutritional and allergen data. This means catering teams can:
- Automatically identify which of the 14 regulated allergens are present in every dish
- Make informed menu decisions quickly and confidently
- Ensure allergen information remains consistent across sites and services
Because every recipe, ingredient and supplier record is synchronised within the system, allergen data stays current – even when products change.
Efficient, compliant and confidence‑building
Parents need confidence that the information provided by schools is accurate. Staff need systems they can rely on. And schools and trusts need assurance that their catering operations are fully compliant, without placing unnecessary strain on already stretched teams.
If you’re managing catering in-house and want to reduce risk, save time and strengthen confidence in your allergen processes, it may be time to rethink the systems supporting your service. Get in touch with us here to learn more.
The Litmus team
