Allergen Awareness in Artisan Baking
Food allergies and intolerances are increasingly prevalent across the UK, and for anyone living with a serious allergy, ordering from an artisan bakery can be a source of anxiety. At Bournemouth Brownie Company, we believe clear, honest allergen information isn't optional — it's fundamental to doing business responsibly.
This article explains what allergens are typically present in brownies, how we label our products, and what you should do if you have a specific dietary requirement.
The 14 Major Allergens (UK Law)
Under UK food labelling law, food businesses must declare any of the 14 major allergens when present in their products. These are:
- Celery
- Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut)
- Crustaceans
- Eggs
- Fish
- Lupin
- Milk
- Molluscs
- Mustard
- Peanuts
- Sesame
- Soybeans
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites
- Tree nuts
What Allergens Are in Brownies?
A standard brownie typically contains the following major allergens:
- Eggs — essential to the structure of a conventional brownie
- Milk — in the form of butter, milk chocolate, white chocolate, or cream
- Gluten (wheat) — from flour, though brownie recipes use relatively little compared to bread or cake
- Soya — often present in commercial chocolate as a soy lecithin emulsifier (including in some Callebaut products — check specific product descriptions)
Depending on the flavour and add-ins, additional allergens may include:
- Tree nuts — in nut-based or praline brownies
- Peanuts — in peanut butter brownies
- Sulphites — sometimes present in certain flavourings or dried fruit
Our Allergen Policy
All Bournemouth Brownie Company products have allergen information clearly listed on each product page in our online shop. Before ordering, please check the specific allergen listing for your chosen product.
Cross-Contamination
We're an artisan bakery, which means our brownies are made in a kitchen where multiple allergens are in use. Even if a specific product doesn't include an allergen in its recipe, we cannot guarantee zero cross-contamination. Our packaging reflects this with appropriate "may contain" declarations.
If you have a severe allergy (particularly to nuts, dairy, or gluten), please contact us before ordering. We want to help you make a safe, informed decision rather than have you rely on online labels alone.
Our Vegan Brownies: Dairy-Free and Egg-Free
Our vegan brownie range is made without dairy or eggs. However, vegan does not mean allergy-safe — our vegan brownies are still baked in a kitchen where dairy and eggs are used, and may contain gluten. Always check the specific allergen listing.
Gluten-Free Brownies
We do not currently offer a certified gluten-free brownie. As noted above, cross-contamination risk in our kitchen is real, and we would not want to mislead anyone with a coeliac diagnosis.
What to Do Before Ordering with Allergies
- Read the specific product allergen listing on each product page
- Note the "may contain" warnings — these are genuine warnings, not legal box-ticking
- Contact us directly if you have a severe allergy — we're always happy to discuss your specific needs
- Check ingredient lists if you have a less common allergy that may not be covered by our standard listings
Allergen-conscious ordering is something we take seriously. Read more about us and our baking practices, or browse our shop — with allergen information shown clearly for every product — and order with confidence.
