Deliveroo to update app with allergen information in wake of Pret crisis

Food delivery startup Deliveroo has today said it is revamping its app with a new menu system which will allow restaurants to upload allergen information for every dish.

London favourites such as Tortilla, Mildred's and Chipotle have signed up for the app's trial roll out in December, which will feature 30 brands that serve almost 300 sites.

The move follows the news that two people died after having an allergic reaction to a sandwich from on-the-go chain Pret A Manger, which legally does not have to list specific ingredients for all food made on-site.

Read more: Coroner names second Pret customer to have died

Deliveroo said it has invested in "major tech changes" to make this happen, including allocating a specific team of engineers to redesign its menu system. The startup added it will be the first time a UK takeaway app has offered this function.

The capability will be rolled out to all 10,000 UK restaurants across 2019. Brands such as Pizza Express, Yo! Sushi, Byron and Pho have all signed up to use the tool once the trial period ends in January.

Deliveroo's UK managing director Dan Warne said: "Deliveroo believes that people should have an amazing delivery experience, and that must include making informed choices. Overhauling our menus is not a simple task, but customers with allergies need this extra transparency before they order which is why we are working with our restaurant partners to make it happen."

Read more: Pret a Manger to introduce full ingredient labels following customer death

Dubbed Natasha's Law in honour of one of the people who died as a result of the Pret case, environment secretary Michael Gove yesterday said the government aims to put forward proposals to change the law regarding allergen declaration by the turn of the year.

Pret said earlier this month it will label all ingredients, including allergens, on its freshly made products from next month.