FOOD allergens, health and safety and trading standards are some of the topics on the agenda at a special workshop for Indian food businesses in Worcester.

The event organised by Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) and Worcester Islamic Association is being staged at the Guildhall, Worcester High Street, on Thursday February 19.

Food labelling and information about ingredients will be a major topic following the introduction of new laws requiring food outlets to tell customers if their products contain any of the top 14 allergens.

This is the second of a series of workshops and Worcester MP Robin Walker as well as Sadiq Miah from the award winning Five Spice in Belbroughton will be attending.

Councillor Mark Bullivant, WRS Joint Committee Chairman, said: “This initiative by WRS is a very different and innovative way of working to support our food businesses and our successful first event in November has led to interest countrywide.

“We strongly believe one of the reasons for the success is the input of local community leaders, many of whom run successful food businesses and who have really helped WRS officers focus on what matters to our Indian businesses.

“They are particularly concerned about the impact of the new Food Information Regulations on allergens, which present a real challenge for small businesses which need advice on how to change menu descriptions and current working practices to meet the new legal requirements.”