Health and allergens

What the app does not do

FixTheWeek does not diagnose, treat or prescribe dietary or drug therapy, and it does not replace individual advice from a doctor or a registered dietitian. The calories, macros and meal plans it generates are mathematical estimates based on the data you enter and the recipes available; they do not guarantee weight loss, weight gain or any health outcome.

When you need individual advice

Before using the automatic mode, consult a professional if you have diabetes, kidney disease or another chronic condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a serious food allergy, follow a medical diet, have an eating disorder, take medicines that affect your diet, or have any other condition in which restricting calories or foods may be unsuitable. The app is not intended for people under 18.

Practical checks

Check all ingredients, portions and the labels of the actual products. Nutrition data is approximate and can vary by brand and preparation. Do not rely on excluding an ingredient in the app as a guarantee that an allergen or cross-contamination is absent. In a medical emergency, get medical help immediately.

What the app does

Recipes and the shopping list show the ingredients each recipe uses. The app does not check the labels of the specific products you buy and does not know their exact composition, brand or how they were made.

The 14 main allergens

Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II, sets out 14 groups of substances and products causing allergies or intolerances that must be indicated on food labels:

UK food-information rules also identify these 14 allergen groups. Food Standards Agency guidance is available at https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses. The list is not exhaustive of everything a person can be allergic to. Recipes are planning information, not a substitute for the legally required information on the actual food product.

• Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat (such as spelt and khorasan wheat), rye, barley, oats or their hybridised strains, and products thereof
• Crustaceans and products thereof
• Eggs and products thereof
• Fish and products thereof
• Peanuts and products thereof
• Soybeans and products thereof
• Milk and products thereof (including lactose)
• Nuts, namely: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecan nuts, Brazil nuts, pistachio nuts, macadamia or Queensland nuts, and products thereof
• Celery and products thereof
• Mustard and products thereof
• Sesame seeds and products thereof
• Sulphur dioxide and sulphites at concentrations of more than 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre in terms of the total SO2
• Lupin and products thereof
• Molluscs and products thereof

The regulation sets out exceptions for some products in these groups (for example, fully refined soybean oil). Full text: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on EUR-Lex

Hidden allergens and cross-contamination

Ready-made sauces, seasonings, bread, stock, dressings and other products can contain allergens that are not obvious from a recipe. Composition differs by brand and can change. Precautionary “may contain” statements are generally voluntary, but voluntary food information is still subject to EU rules, including that it must not mislead or confuse consumers and, where appropriate, must be based on relevant scientific data. Treat such statements as warnings; their absence is not a guarantee against cross-contamination.

UK precautionary allergen information must also avoid misleading consumers; official guidance recommends a specific warning based on a real cross-contact risk. In every market, read the actual packaging and ask the food supplier when uncertain. Absence of a warning, or an app exclusion, is not proof that food is safe for your allergy.

Rules on voluntary food information: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 36

What "Ingredients to avoid" does

"Ingredients to avoid" removes recipes that list an avoided ingredient as an ingredient. It does not detect hidden allergens and should not be the only protection for someone with a food allergy.

Check the label and get advice

Always read the label of every product. If you have a food allergy or intolerance, talk to a doctor or dietitian before following a generated plan.

In an emergency

For signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips or throat or collapse, seek emergency help immediately: call 112 in the EU/EEA, or 999 or 112 in the UK. Use your prescribed adrenaline auto-injector as directed. Do not wait for advice from the app.

Data about ingredients you avoid

The ingredients you choose to avoid and save may reveal an allergy or intolerance, which is health information. They are stored only with your explicit consent to the processing of health data, and you can remove them in "Privacy and data".