Communication needs and food allergy: a summary of stakeholder views

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to elicit information about the specific information needs of different stakeholders and end-users. An essential part of food allergy prevention includes the development of effective communication strategies to all stakeholders and end-users of this information, including allergic consumers, their carers, health professionals, public authorities (regulators and compliance authorities) retailers, manufacturers, caterers, and the general public. Design/methodology/approach - A stakeholder consultation was conducted to solicit the views of different stakeholders regarding what information they required. Findings ¿ The results of the stakeholder analysis indicated that some information needs were common across all stakeholders and end-users. An example is the need for information about the causes and symptomology of food allergy. Some specific information needs for different stakeholders were also identified. The industrial sector requires more information about clear guidelines for labelling practices, whereas allergic consumers and health professionals require more information about symptomology, treatment and prevention. Regulators need information from risk assessors regarding issues key to the implementation of an effective regulatory framework, at a more detailed level of technicality than that required by other stakeholders (for example, consumers). Originality/value - Targeted information strategies may be the most resource-efficient way to effectively communicate to different stakeholders about food allergy. However, information channels best suited to specific stakeholder needs remain to be investigated and exploited.