RESTAURANTS and takeaways are now required to tell customers if any of the top 14 allergen ingredients are present in the foods they serve.

It comes as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) reveals 70 per cent of people with allergies avoid buying takeaways.

A survey, carried out by the Food Standards Agency, found that 46 per cent of respondents in the South West didn’t feel confident in their knowledge of ingredients related to food allergies and intolerances.

This poll also found that 10 per cent of South West respondents were more likely to suffer from food intolerances than allergies.

Restaurants and takeaways now have to inform their customers about 14 specific allergens that range from widely known ingredients such as nuts and milk, to less widely recognised allergens like mustard.