What restaurant staff must legally know about allergens in the UK
Allergen safety is a legal responsibility for food businesses in the UK. Staff involved in preparing, handling, or serving food must understand specific allergen requirements.
This applies regardless of business size or style of service.
The 14 allergens recognised in UK law
Staff must be able to recognise the following allergens:
- Celery
- Cereals containing gluten
- Crustaceans
- Eggs
- Fish
- Lupin
- Milk
- Molluscs
- Mustard
- Nuts
- Peanuts
- Sesame
- Soybeans
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites
These allergens must be correctly identified and communicated to customers when present in food.
What staff are legally expected to do
Under UK law, staff must be able to:
- Identify which allergens are present in menu items
- Know where official allergen information is stored
- Provide accurate information to customers
- Escalate queries when unsure
Guessing or relying on assumptions is not acceptable.
Verbal information and accuracy
While allergen information can be provided verbally, it must be accurate and supported by written records. Inspectors often test whether verbal answers match documented information.
If verbal advice is incorrect, this is treated as a serious failure.
Natasha's Law and staff responsibilities
For prepacked food for direct sale, staff must understand that full ingredient lists with allergens emphasised are legally required.
This applies to food prepared and packaged on site before being offered for sale.
Failure to comply can lead to immediate enforcement action.
Training versus real world application
Inspectors increasingly focus on how allergen knowledge is applied during service. They may assess:
- Staff responses during normal service
- Consistency between different staff members
- How allergen information is accessed when needed
Certificates alone do not demonstrate effective control.
How Allergenius supports staff allergen knowledge and compliance
Staff are legally required to provide accurate allergen information, but mistakes often occur when information is difficult to find or unclear during service.
Allergenius supports staff by providing a clear and accessible reference for allergen information linked directly to menu items and ingredients. This reduces reliance on memory and helps staff give consistent, accurate answers to customers.
By centralising allergen data and supporting clear communication across teams and shifts, the platform helps businesses demonstrate that staff are properly supported in meeting their legal responsibilities, both during day to day service and when inspectors assess real world practice.
Further information is available at allergenius.co.uk.
Ready to Simplify Allergen Management?
If you're looking for a solution to display your allergens to your customers, Allergenius makes it easy with digital menus and QR codes.
Visit Allergenius.co.uk
