Not so very long ago, any special dietary requests beyond bog-standard veggie caused eye rolls and groans from venue teams. Such requests were perceived as additional unwanted hassles that had to be grudgingly reacted to, inflicted by overly picky guests.

Fast forward to 2022 and a colossal 1200% increase in uptake of allergen awareness courses amongst hospitality industry personnel.

Demand coincides with the introduction of Natasha’s Law in October 2021, mandating clearer food labelling. The legislation came about in response to the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2016.

Natasha specifically chose a baguette from Pret a Manger because the label didn’t indicate any ingredients she avoided, including sesame seeds. But the baguette did contain baked in sesame seeds that weren’t detailed on the label. They caused a fatal anaphylactic reaction.

Any event professional will tell you it’s become more and more important to cater for individual requests during the past decade, no matter how ‘off the wall’ some requests might seem. People are looking for an ability and a willingness for venues and events to cater for –

·        Dietary requirements for medical reasons

·        Diverse personal lifestyle choices

Read the full story here and get in touch with us, at MICE Concierge, for advice about managing dietary requirements for events.