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Your Legal Responsibilities

If you serve food that isn’t prepackaged—like meals in a café, deli items, or food made to order—UK food law says you must clearly communicate any allergenic ingredients. This guide will help your business get it right.

Under UK law, you must inform customers if any of the 14 major allergens are used in your food.

Each business in the supply chain is responsible for providing correct allergen information. If you supply food to other businesses, make sure they have everything they need to comply.

 

You don’t need to list full ingredients, but allergen information must be:
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Accurate
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Easily accessible
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Clearly visible or communicated at the point of order

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How to Provide Allergen Information

You can choose how to present allergen information—what matters is that it’s clear, accessible, and accurate.

Common Methods:
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Staff provide the information verbally (must be supported by signage and written backup)
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Written allergen sheets, charts, or menus
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Ingredient breakdowns available on request
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Allergen matrix or ‘contains’ statements

For Buffets and Mixed Dishes

Allergen details must be provided for each individual food item.

You can:
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Use signage or printed allergen charts
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Label dishes with allergen 'contains' statements

Distance Selling: Takeaway and Delivery

If you sell food online or over the phone, you must make allergen information available to customers before they place an order and again at the time of delivery.

Provide allergen information by:
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Adding it to your online menu or ordering system
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Offering verbal information over the phone
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Labelling containers with allergen content (e.g. “Chicken Satay: Contains wheat, soya, fish, peanuts”)
  • right_arrow_orange_icon Including a printed allergen menu with the order