Here’s how Sainsbury’s can help
Making sense of food allergy and intolerance
If you have an allergy or intolerance, choosing suitable foods doesn’t have to be hard work. Here's how we can help:
Shopping for a food allergy or intolerance
If you suspect you have a food allergy or intolerance, it is important you are diagnosed correctly by a doctor and referred to a registered dietitian for expert advice on how to manage your diet to meet all your nutritional needs.
What is a food allergy?
Food allergies involve the body’s immune system. The body reacts to certain allergens in food by producing antibodies, which can cause immediate and severe symptoms such as swollen lips or eyes, vomiting, skin hives and, in the most extreme cases, difficulty breathing and a severe fall in blood pressure (anaphylactic shock). Foods that may cause an allergic reaction include nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, wheat and soya.
What is a food intolerance?
This does not normally involve the immune system, and symptoms may not be as immediate or severe as in food allergies. Symptoms may include headache, fatigue and digestive problems. An example is lactose intolerance, in which certain people cannot digest the sugar in milk. Food intolerance is harder to diagnose than allergy. The only reliable way to diagnose it is to cut out the suspected food from the diet to see if symptoms get better. If symptoms improve, the food should be reintroduced and monitored for signs of the symptoms returning. This process should only take place under the supervision of a registered dietitian.
Sainsbury’s freefrom range – making shopping easier!
It’s now even easier to find food you can enjoy without compromising on flavour, thanks to our new and improved freefrom range. We now offer more options for those who are excluding wheat, gluten and/or dairy from their diet – look for its distinctive yellow design.
On the packaging we identify what each product is free from – always check the label to make sure that the freefrom product you’ve chosen is suitable for you. Just ask instore which aisle you can find the freefrom range in.
The freefrom range includes:
- Breakfast cereals such as porridge and muesli.
- Bakery items, including white sliced bread, pittas, English muffins, pizza bases,naan,breadcrumbs and bread mix with added fibre.
- Pasta, such as Italian corn penne pasta, Italian corn fusilli pasta, lasagne and spaghetti.
- Milk alternatives such as unsweetened soya milk and rice drinks.
- Tasty meal ideas, including chicken nuggets, chicken kiev, cod fillet fish fingers, gluten-free burgers and gluten-free pork chipolatas.
- Treats like cakes, biscuits, muffins, brownies and desserts, so you needn’t miss out on anything.
Tips for shopping, storage and food preparation at home
If you have a diagnosed allergy or intolerance, it’s essential you take care to avoid cross-contamination with the allergen.
Shopping for food When you buy or cook food for someone with a food allergy, you will need to:
- Check the ingredients to ensure the product does not contain the allergen (eg nuts, wheat, gluten) that the person is allergic to.
- Check for other allergy advice on the label.
- Obtain one of our allergen lists to help you shop.
Preparing food for someone with an allergy
- To avoid cross-contamination, store foods such as nuts, peanuts, flour and milk separately in closed containers.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly and avoid touching other foods until you have finished preparing the meal.
- Wash all cooking equipment thoroughly with hot water and soap. This includes work tops, chopping boards, mixing bowls, pans, cake tins, knives and utensils.
- If you are using oil for cooking, do not use oil that food has previously been cooked in.
This information is a guide only and should not replace advice given from your healthcare professional.
