The awards are now open for entry and this will close on August 31st. A shortlist will be published in mid September and presentations will take place on November 19th at the FoodMatters Live Event at ExCeL.

The launch has been timed to coincide with the build up to the new Food Information Regulations (FIRs) coming into force in December. These will require all foodservice outlets to provide accurate information about any of the 14 major allergens in the food that they serve.

Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson, patron of the awards, said they would celebrate not only imaginative gluten, dairy and egg free menu offerings but good allergen awareness, both in the kitchen and front of house.

He said: “The success of retail freefrom products illustrates how important FreeFrom options are.The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards are an exciting opportunity for this section of consumers.

“They will set a bar and encourage the pursuit of excellence across the industry.”

Categories include:
* Restaurants and hotel restaurants
* Pubs and pub restaurants
* Cafés, coffee shops and ‘take-aways’
* Guest houses and B&Bs
* Schools
* Not for profit services: hospitals, prison services & the military
* Food manufactured for food service

International services provider Sodexo is headline sponsor for the new awards.

Wan Mak, head of nutrition and dietetics at Sodexo said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring these awards and we hope that it will raise awareness of the importance of providing information for people with allergies.”

To enter visit: http://www.freefromeatingoutawards.co.uk.