Commited to allergen-free

At Kirsty’s, we understand that living with food allergies and intolerances can feel overwhelming. That is why everything we do is focused on making safe, delicious and nutritious food that you can trust.

We know first-hand how important it is to have confidence in the meals you choose. Our founder Kirsty started the business after her son was diagnosed with severe food allergies, so safety has always been at the heart of what we do.

Find helpful resources here:

• The Anaphylaxis Campaign   

• AllergyUK

• The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI)

• Coeliac UK

• The Anaphylaxis Campaign
• AllergyUK
• The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI)
• Coeliac UK

A factory you can trust
All of our meals are made in our dedicated allergen free factory in Harrogate. Our entire site is completely free from all 14 major allergens.

That means no gluten, no dairy, no nuts, no soya, no sesame, and none of the other allergens you might find listed on labels.

We do not allow any ingredients containing these allergens into our building, and we have strict controls in place for all raw materials. Every team member receives thorough allergen training, and we test every single batch of food to ensure it meets the highest safety standards.

No may contains
We understand how frustrating vague labels can be. That is why we are completely transparent and clear in our labelling. 

You will never find “may contain” on our packs. Instead, we work hard behind the scenes so you can feel confident in every meal you enjoy.

Always improving
We are always looking for new ways to improve our processes and make life easier for those living with allergies. Whether we are developing new products, investing in new technology or supporting people at the start of their allergy journey, we are here to help you feel well, safe and excited about food again.
If you have any questions about allergens, our team is always happy to help. Just reach out to us through our contact page.

Stress-free allergy shopping

Food allergies on packaging
Packaged foods must highlight 14 major allergens: dairy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soya, gluten, fish, sesame, crustaceans, molluscs, lupin, sulphites, mustard, and celery. Ingredients must list the allergen clearly, e.g. Casein (Milk), Bulgar (Wheat). For loose or non-packaged foods, such as those in sandwich stores or bakeries, they don’t have to list allergens in full as long as the information is available.
‘May contain’ statements
These are voluntary statements, so their absence doesn’t always mean a product is safe from cross-contamination. Even if you or your child have eaten something before without a reaction, it could be contaminated in the future. Since allergens might be airborne or spread during production, it’s helpful to talk to the manufacturer to understand the level of risk.

Step-by-step advice

Pre-plan
Plan your weekly menu to stay focused on what you need. Use apps or website filters to build your shopping list as this will help you create a clear plan. Shopping in-store lets you check labels directly, unlike online shopping which gives you less control, as recipes may have changed.
Watch out for salts,sugars andsaturated fats

Not all free-from foods are the same. Whilst we strive to make our food as healthy as possible, some may contain more of these ingredients than others.

Read every label,every time
Always check the packagingwhen shopping. Responsible manufacturers should highlight allergen changes on the front of the pack, but this isn’t guaranteed.

Explore our allergy-friendly products

Our Products

Tips for parents

Not every child grows out of their allergies, they can worsen with age. My son’s dairy allergy gradually diminished but his nut allergy has got worse and his reactions to traces have intensified throughout his teens. Here’s some advice following my own experiences…

1.
Always make sure you have at least one EpiPen and make sure to track their shelf life. They usually last around 12 months – keep an eye on discolouration and the use by date.

2.
Larger restaurant chains have the best allergen safe menus and capabilities to ensure safety. Pizza Express is a great example of a chain that has an in-depth menu highlighting all its allergens and “may contain” ingredients across every item on the menu.

3.
There have been too many very sad examples of reactions suffered on aeroplanes, it’s reassuring to know that some airlines, such as BA, do not allow nuts in any of their in-flight meals and they’re working hard to cater for all allergens. Many other airlines have, or will be, following suit. Check before you fly and always alert the airline.

4.
When traveling abroad, take care with labels as labelling regulations are not always as strict as in the UK. By law, food must state allergens in bold or underlined on packaging here, the same rules do not apply worldwide. Be extra vigilant, triple check ingredients, use Google translate in restaurants to ensure the waiter fully understands your dietary requirements. It’s also important to know where your nearest hospital is, should the worst happen.

5.
Secondary allergic reactions exist and can be worse than the initial acute reaction. A second anaphylactic reaction, known as a biphasic reaction, can occur 12-24 hours after the initial reaction. It’s important you or your child are not left alone following an initial reaction.

6.
‘May contain’ really does mean ‘may contain’. Whilst manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure cross contamination risk is minimal, it does occur, it is virtually impossible to avoid. A manufacturing line will produce 20 different products, the lines will always be cleaned down, but some allergens are airborne meaning cleaning down will not necessarily eliminate some traces of allergens.

7.
Upon discovering your child has an allergy, it can feel extremely overwhelming and isolating. Allergies affect 6% of the adult population and it’s reported to be even higher in children. There are support groups, social media pages, food shows, delicious free-from foods and an array of cookery books – so seek support from others and the journey will quickly feel less intense and will become part of your everyday life.