Allergen and dietary information
we are : gluten free // dairy free // egg free // nut free // beer free // pescatarian // vegetarian // vegan
We understand that organising food for an event for large groups of people is a challenge – and can be quite daunting for the person responsible. A severe allergy can make someone very ill and can even be life-threatening. Therefore, being confident that the caterer you choose has sufficient measures in place to eliminate cross-contamination, and be a safe place to eat for your guests, is paramount.
Here at The English Indian, we can cater for a wide range of dietary requirements, and our menu features gluten-free, dairy-free. beer, egg and nut-free, pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan options.
We know the terminology can be confusing at times, so here’s a little know-how to help you make the right choice when choosing a caterer:
Gluten Free – for those with an intolerance to gluten. Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye. Some people may only have a mild intolerance, but others may have a wheat allergy or coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. When people with coeliac disease eat gluten, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine.
Dairy Free – for those with an intolerance to milk products (including yoghurt and cheese) produced by an animal, most commonly cows, but includes sheep and goats too. Oh, and water buffalo and camels (although these are slightly less common!). Cow’s milk allergy (also known as cow’s milk protein allergy or CMPA) is an abnormal response by the body’s immune system in which proteins in a food, in this case cow’s milk, are recognised as a potential threat, and where consumption of the proteins can produce allergic symptoms.
Lactose Free – for those with an intolerance to lactose, which is a sugar found in milk/dairy products. Lactose intolerance should not be confused with cow’s milk allergy, which is caused by a reaction to the proteins in cow’s milk rather than the sugar.
Nut Free – for those with an allergy to nuts. This can be a serious allergy for some and is quite common. Many caterers will be confident about not using nuts in their ingredients, but you’ll often hear them say, they cannot ‘guarantee any trace’. This is because ingredients they use may be produced in a factory that also handles nuts.
Egg Free – for those with an allergy to eggs.
Beer Free – those requiring beer free food are likely to do so for religious reasons.
There are 14 allergens which caterers are required to provide allergen information on. This is displayed in a matrix for ease. If you’ve several people with allergies, it may be worth asking your caterer to supply you with their Allergy Matrix which should look like this: Allergy Matrix
Some of the terminology surrounding food can be a little confusing, so here’s a little more information to help you:
Halal – food which adheres to Islamic law. It relates to the way an animal is slaughtered. All food from the sea is classed as halal. Food containing alcohol is not halal.
Kosher – food prepared, cooked or eaten that satisfies Jewish law. Certain foods, notably pork and shellfish are forbidden; meat and dairy may not be combined, and meat must be ritually slaughtered and salted to remove all traces of blood.
Pescatarian – someone who eats fish, but not meat.
Vegetarian – someone who does not eat fish or meat
Vegan – someone who does not eat anything produced by an animal, i.e. milk, cheese, yoghurt, meat, fish, eggs. They will eat a plant-based diet
Flexitarian – someone who has a primarily vegetarian diet, but occasionally eats meat or fish.
If you, or anyone you know has allergies, it’s worth checking out Allergy Companions.
Allergy Companions is a review site for anyone suffering with food allergies, intolerances or coeliac disease. They list food companies that have been recommended by other allergy diners across the UK and parts of Ireland, making eating out with allergies so much easier.
Get in touch
Got at least 50 hungry guests to feed? Does your budget meet our minimum fees below? If you answered, YES, fill out the form and brace yourself for a feast that’ll blow your mind. We promise you’ll receive a super speedy reply with costs and availability.
Mon – Fri Lunch (£840+vat)
Mon – Thurs Eve (£960+vat)
Fri Eve, Sat, Sun, Bank Holidays (£2040+vat)
We do small and intimate, but if you’ve a large number of people to feed in a small space of time, we can do this too. We have 2 vans and can serve up to 600 people in 1 hour
