Food allergens
Food businesses must tell you if food they sell or provide contains any of the 14 allergens listed in food law.
This applies to food businesses including:
- manufacturers
- restaurants
- takeaways
- retailers
- bakeries
- sandwich bars
The 14 allergens
Food businesses must tell you if food contains any of these allergens:
- celery
- cereals containing gluten, such as wheat, rye, barley and oats
- crustaceans, such as prawns, crabs and lobsters
- eggs
- fish
- lupin
- milk
- molluscs, such as mussels and oysters
- mustard
- peanuts
- sesame
- soya
- sulphur dioxide and sulphites
- tree nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts
How allergen information must be provided
Food businesses can provide allergen information in different ways, depending on the type of food they sell.
You may find allergen information:
- on food labels
- on menus
- on chalkboards
- on food tickets
- by asking a suitable member of staff
If you order takeaway food, the business should ask about your allergy needs before you place your order. They should also provide allergen information when they deliver your food.
Information for food businesses selling loose, unpackaged or prepacked for direct sale food
These documents can help food businesses understand and meet allergen requirements:
- Food allergies and intolerances notice for customers (PDF)
- Food allergen risk assessment for caterers (PDF)
- The Food Information Regulations (PDF)
- Allergen risk assessment chart (PDF)
- Food allergy and intolerance guidance
Information for manufacturers and businesses selling prepacked food
These documents can help manufacturers and other businesses that sell prepacked food:
- British Retail Consortium guidance on food allergens (PDF)
- Food Standards Agency allergy guidance on labelling food (PDF)
Information for people with food allergies or intolerances
You can find advice on food allergies and intolerances on the Food Standards Agency website.