ANÁLISE DOS ALÉRGENOS DECLARADOS EM CARDÁPIOS DE RESTAURANTES EM SHOPPINGS.

Currently, the population has less time to prepare their meal at home, therefore the high demand in "self-service" restaurants, fast foods and others located in malls. According to Art. 6 of Law No. 8,078, of September 11, 1990, it is a basic right of the consumer to have adequate and clear information about the ingredients and the risks that a particular food presents. However, most restaurants do not assume the responsibility to present products with necessary information about the possible ingredients that may cause allergies. The present study aimed to identify restaurants that have the proposal of presenting allergens in the menus, to analyze which are declared and how this insertion was made. The research was carried out in four malls in the Paulista Avenue area, where the restaurants in the food court were surveyed, classifying them into two groups according to the statement or not of the allergens in their menus. For each mall, two restaurants were drawn, one from each group, which answered two questionnaires prepared by the Responsible Researchers. Of the total of restaurants analyzed, 13% declared allergens on their menus and 87% did not declare. Of those who declared, the presence of gluten was identified, as well as soy, fish, egg and wheat traces, by writing and symbols. It is concluded that mall restaurants, for the most part, have no indication of allergens in their menus, and those who have it, only declare the presence of gluten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]