As Allergy Awareness Week (20 – 26 April) highlights the risks and realities faced by people living with food allergies, Meet Cambridge is supporting the launch of the Managing Dietary Requirements at Events Toolkit - a practical new resource developed by the ABPCO Dietary Requirements at Events Taskforce to help event planners, venues and caterers communicate dietary needs clearly, consistently and safely across all types of events.
Launching at the ABPCO Festival of Learning on 30 April, the toolkit addresses not only allergy awareness but also religious, cultural and lifestyle requirements, reflecting the need for a more inclusive and standardised approach to dietary provision across the events sector.
The toolkit was developed under the umbrella of the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO), bringing together venues, caterers, in-house event professionals, PCOs and individuals with lived experience of dietary requirements. The taskforce was initially formed by Clare Beach, PCO and Managing Director at Azura Events, in response to the industry’s need for clearer processes and a shared language across stakeholders.
Meet Cambridge, as an ABPCO member, played a leading role within the taskforce, helping to shape the guidance and practical tools now being launched. The collective aim has been to improve clarity, reduce risk, and ensure delegates with allergies or complex dietary needs can participate safely and confidently.
Anita Macdonald, Deputy Marketing Manager of Meet Cambridge, and now leading the ABPCO Dietary Requirements at Events taskforce, said:
As events become increasingly international, differences in regulations, such as varying allergen lists across countries, can create confusion and risk. A more harmonised approach, combined with ongoing industry education and practical guidance, would be a major step forward.
With food allergies and intolerances becoming increasingly prevalent, events face both reputational and safety risks when dietary requirements are miscommunicated or misunderstood. According to the Food Standards Agency, around 6% of UK adults – roughly 2.4 million people – have a clinically confirmed food allergy, with many more experiencing adverse reactions annually.
Matt Stalker, Executive Director at ABPCO, said:
This toolkit is a strong example of what the industry can achieve when it works collaboratively and without silos. By bringing together expertise from across the sector, we have created a practical resource that provides a simple step towards safer, smoother and more inclusive experiences for every guest.
Legislation such as Natasha's Law has driven significant progress over the past decade. However, while legislation sets an essential baseline, consistency in implementation remains a challenge, particularly across complex events involving multiple suppliers. Lori Cobley who lives with allergies and helped shape the toolkit commented:
For many people with dietary requirements, attending events comes with an added layer of anxiety. When dietary needs aren’t clearly understood or communicated, the consequences can be serious and in some cases, life-threatening.
Organisers, venues and caterers often interpret dietary information differently, leading to discrepancies in how requirements are captured, communicated and delivered on site. One venue that is committed to improving practices is King’s College in Cambridge. Clare Timms, Conference & Events Sales Manager from King’s College, Cambridge, said:
Clear communication underpins great events. Standardising how dietary requirements are collected, shared and acted upon will help the sector deliver safer, more inclusive experiences for all delegates.
The toolkit will be launched at the ABPCO Festival of Learning on 30 April at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.
Alternatively, simply download the PCO/event planner’s checklist and venue/caterer's checklist from the Meet Cambridge website.
