FOOD businesses have upped their game when selling food containing allergens, according to Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service.

The percentage of businesses failing tests for ingredients containing allergens which hadn't been declared on menus has dropped over the last three years from 40 per cent to 12.5 per cent, it has been revealed.

The figures have been highlighted during Food Standards Agency's national Food Safety Week campaign this week, which seeks to highlight the role of those whose daily work is to 'protect our plate' by ensuring food is safe to eat.

A county council spokesman said Trading Standards are working closely with businesses to make sure they understand the 'serious implications' of serving food containing undeclared allergens, and bring any which fail sample tests into line.

Rachel Wilcock, principal officer for food, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service, said: "The good news is that over the last three years we've seen a real improvement in the proportion of businesses passing, and while we don't want any failures at all, I hope this gives people confidence that their food has become safer in this respect."