Supermarket giant Sainsbury's has left shoppers with allergies stunned as its warns them to avoid buying anything from its fresh food counters or cafes.
Bosses issued the stark new advice on its website, admitting there is a risk of cross contamination at their bakeries, delis, fresh meat, fish and hot food counters.
Allergy campaigners are left stunned by what they feel is a 'blanket ban' and say they do not feel welcome in store.
More than two million people in the UK are diagnosed with a food allergy.
Angela Waters, who runs Nut Free Living, said she was upset by Sainsbury's allergy policy.
"We just don't feel welcome any more," she said.
"Two years ago we had Sainsbury's at the top supermarket, but it just nose dived.
"It's just disgusting, we're not welcome at all."
Advice on the Sainsbury's website says: "When it comes to products made in our stores, there may be a risk of possible cross contamination due to products being prepared in an open environment.... we cannot guarantee the absence of allergens in these products.
"We advise shoppers with allergies to avoid all of the products that are sold from our in store bakery, deli counter, hot food counter, fresh meat and fresh fish counter, Sainsbury’s cafés and our self-service salad bar."
Mum-of-three Angela's eldest daughter has a nut allergy.
She believes the supermarket's move came as an over-the-top reaction to Natasha's Law - which will see companies made to display allergens on all pre-packaged food.
"Whilst I appreciate they need to warn customers about potential cross contamination there are better ways of going about it," Angela said.
"Their signs don’t say may contain salmonella, don’t eat here, do they. Yet they handle raw meat."
Alexa Baracaia, who runs allergy hour on Twitter each week, said she had no idea why Sainsbury's has made the sudden change.
The mum-of-two said: "Supermarkets like Sainsbury's need to up their game.
"It's easy to understand why a small cafe doesn't know how to handle the this, but a major supermarket?
"What if everybody followed suit?
"They need to talk to people and have people involved who know what it is like to live with a food allergy.
"We know the numbers are growing, and it is not just those with allergies, but their families, friends, work colleagues who are all affected by this."
"People panicked and were running scared and they didn't know how to deal with this," she continued.
"Not having the staff and the resources to deal with it, but Sainsbury's is a major supermarket they need to properly prepare their food."
Dr Hazel Gowland from Allergy Action agreed that Sainsbury's were once the pioneers for how to deal with allergic consumers.
She said: "They have loyal customers and we are asking what has gone on. I'm just baffled."
Dr Hazel added it appears Sainsbury's haven't carried out proper risk assessments on the items and have just imposed a blanket approach.
Disgruntled shopper Tracy Reid added: "No point shopping there anymore then.
"Sainsbury's sort it out. If you can't guarantee no cross contamination of allergens how can you guarantee no cross contamination of things like salmonella etc."
While Emma Bilsland added: "Sainsbury’s are very quickly becoming somewhere that allergy sufferers are just not welcome.
"They’ve gone from being one of the best supermarkets to the worst. I find it bizarre.
"Has there been a change of senior management in the last few years or something?"
The Food Standards Agency has said it was investigating Sainsbury's allergy policy.
Sainsbury's has been approached for comment.
Natasha's Law is set to come into force by 2021, following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died after eating a Pret a Manger sandwich.
Her parents Tanya and Nadim battled tirelessly for food businesses to clearly label all pre-packaged food with allergen information and say this is a "fitting legacy".
Under current rules, food that is prepared and sold on the same premises, is not required to display allergen information on its packaging.
