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EU Allergen Labeling Compliance Guide

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About This Resource

EU allergen labeling laws are among the strictest in the world, and non-compliance can result in significant fines and reputational damage. This guide breaks down EU Regulation No 1169/2011 into practical, actionable steps for restaurants. It covers all 14 major allergens, how to label them on your menu (written, verbal, or digital), staff training requirements, cross-contamination prevention in the kitchen, and how to handle customer allergen inquiries. Includes ready-to-use allergen matrices and communication scripts.

What's Included

14 major allergen reference

Menu labeling templates

Staff training checklist

Allergen matrix for your menu

Customer communication scripts

Who Is This For?

Restaurants operating in any EU member state, the UK, or any country that follows EU food safety standards. Essential for new restaurants and those updating their compliance procedures.

Quick Start Guide

1Map your entire menu against the 14 allergen categories using the matrix
2Update your menu labeling using the templates provided
3Train all staff using the included training module
4Implement the kitchen cross-contamination prevention protocols

The Resource

The 14 EU Allergens (Mandatory Labeling)

#	Allergen	Common Sources in Restaurants
1	Celery	Stocks, soups, salads, spice mixes, Bloody Mary
2	Cereals containing gluten	Bread, pasta, pastry, batter, soy sauce, beer
3	Crustaceans	Shrimp, crab, lobster, crayfish, shrimp paste
4	Eggs	Mayonnaise, pasta, cakes, some sauces, meringue
5	Fish	Worcestershire sauce, Caesar dressing, Asian fish sauce
6	Lupin	Some bread, pastries, pasta (common in continental Europe)
7	Milk	Butter, cheese, cream, milk powder in sauces and baked goods
8	Molluscs	Oysters, mussels, squid, octopus, oyster sauce
9	Mustard	Dressings, marinades, sauces, spice blends, pickles
10	Nuts	Pesto, praline, marzipan, nut oils, satay sauce
11	Peanuts	Satay, some Asian dishes, peanut oil (refined is often exempt)
12	Sesame	Hummus, tahini, bread, salad dressings, Asian cuisine
13	Soybeans	Soy sauce, tofu, miso, edamame, many processed foods
14	Sulphur dioxide (>10mg/kg)	Wine, dried fruits, pickled foods, some sausages

Compliance Checklist

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide/sulphites, lupin, and molluscs.

Yes — the UK retained the EU allergen labeling rules and added additional requirements under Natasha's Law for pre-packed for direct sale foods. This guide covers both.

Yes — EU law requires allergen information for all food items sold to consumers. The guide shows you the most efficient way to do this for dine-in, takeaway, and delivery.