Trigger warning: There's a piece of toast on stage!

Theatre-goers have become used to trigger warnings about sex scenes or outdated language that may offend those of a delicate nature.

But it's hard to imagine who might benefit from the latest alert - which tells audience members that there will be toast on stage.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the production of How the Other Half Loves also exposes ticket-holders to meatballs, avocado, eggs and soup.

In the 'content guidance' of its website, The Old Vic in south London warns it 'involves real food'. 

It even lists the ingredients for the Mr Organic Garden Pea & Vegetable Soup that appears in its version of Alan Ayckbourn's 1969 play, including 'peas (38%), carrots (3%)celery (3%)'.

Theatres issue allergy warnings when productions use notoriously risky food on stage such as peanuts, which can cause airborne or contact reactions for the audience and cast. 

Eggs and celery are among 14 allergens that the Food Standards Agency requires British food businesses to identify to customers.

The Old Vic's production, which stars Roger Allam and runs until September 19, isn't the first to offer cautious culinary guidance.

In February 2023, The Young Vic warned audiences attending Further Than The Furthest Thing that it involved the 'handling of a cooked egg'. 

Trigger warnings normally alert an audience to potentially problematic issues including strong language, xenophobia, infant homicide, sexual violence, mental illness and implied suicide.

But the London Palladium was ridiculed last year for telling those watching the musical Jesus Christ Superstar that it depicted a crucifixion.

Sir Ian McKellen has called some trigger warnings 'ludicrous', while Dame Judi Dench has questioned the effect on the element of surprise when audiences know in advance what they will see.

The Old Vic categorises the alerts as 'content guidance' rather than trigger warnings.