Adding Allergen Information
How to add accurate allergen information to your menu items.
Last updated: 8 February 2025
Adding Allergen Information
Accurate allergen information is crucial for customer safety and legal compliance. Allergenius helps you manage all 14 major allergens.
The 14 Major Allergens
UK and EU food regulations require declaration of these 14 allergens:
| Allergen | Common Sources |
|---|---|
| Celery | Celery stalks, leaves, seeds, celeriac |
| Crustaceans | Crab, lobster, prawns, shrimp |
| Eggs | All eggs, mayonnaise, meringue |
| Fish | All fish species, fish sauce, anchovies |
| Gluten | Wheat, barley, rye, oats |
| Lupin | Lupin seeds, flour (common in bread) |
| Milk | All dairy products, butter, cream, cheese |
| Molluscs | Mussels, oysters, squid, snails |
| Mustard | Mustard seeds, powder, oil, leaves |
| Peanuts | Peanuts, peanut oil, groundnuts |
| Sesame | Sesame seeds, tahini, sesame oil |
| Soybeans | Soy sauce, tofu, edamame, soy milk |
| Sulphites | Wine, dried fruit, some preservatives |
| Tree Nuts | Almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, etc. |
Adding Allergens to Items
- Edit the menu item
- In the Allergens section, check all that apply
- Be thorough—check every ingredient in your recipe
- Save your changes
May Contain Information
The "May Contain" field is for cross-contamination warnings:
- Items prepared in shared equipment
- Items from suppliers with allergen warnings
- Kitchen cross-contact risks
Example: "May contain traces of nuts due to shared preparation areas"
Verification Tips
- Review supplier ingredient lists regularly
- Check with your kitchen team about recipes
- Update immediately when recipes change
- Consider cross-contamination in your kitchen
Legal Requirements
In the UK, you must:
- Provide allergen information for all food sold
- Make information easily accessible to customers
- Keep information accurate and up-to-date
- Train staff to answer allergen queries
Allergenius helps you meet these requirements by providing a clear, accessible format for allergen information.