Allergens

Allergens help you keep your customers safe by clearly showing what ingredients might cause allergic reactions. When you add allergen information to your menu items, customers can make informed choices about what they order.

The 14 Standard Allergens

TypeMenu includes all 14 allergens that must be declared under EU and UK food labelling laws:

Allergen	Examples
Celery	Including celeriac
Cereals containing gluten	Wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut
Crustaceans	Prawns, crabs, lobster, crayfish
Eggs	All egg products
Fish	All fish species
Lupin	Lupin seeds and flour
Milk	Including lactose
Molluscs	Mussels, oysters, squid, snails
Mustard	Seeds, powder, prepared mustard
Nuts	Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamias
Peanuts	Groundnuts
Sesame seeds	Seeds, oil, paste (tahini)
Soya	Beans, oil, lecithin
Sulphur dioxide and sulphites	At concentrations >10mg/kg or 10mg/L

How to Add Allergens to Your Products

Adding Allergens in the Menu

1. Go to your menu and open any product for editing, or create a new product
2. Scroll down to the product variant section
3. Look for the “Allergens” section - this appears in a bordered box within each variant
4. Click in the allergen selection box to see the list of available allergens
5. Select all allergens that apply to that specific variant of your product
6. Save your changes when you’re done

Per-Variant Allergens

Each product variant can have different allergens:

• A “Regular Burger” might contain gluten and eggs
• A “Gluten-Free Burger” variant would have different allergens
• This allows accurate information for each menu option

The Allergen App

For businesses that want dedicated allergen management tools, TypeMenu offers the Allergen App as a separate, standalone application. The Allergen App provides a focused interface specifically for managing allergen information across your products.

See Apps & Integrations for information about installing and using apps.

How Allergens Display to Customers

On Your Storefront

Customers see allergen information:

• Product pages: Allergens listed for each variant
• Cart: Allergen warnings for items in cart
• Checkout: Final allergen summary

Allergen Icons

Each allergen has a recognisable icon:

• Makes identification quick and easy
• Consistent across all product displays
• Universally understood symbols

Tips for Allergen Management

Accuracy is Critical

• Be thorough: Include all ingredients that might cause reactions
• Check supplier information: Know what’s in every ingredient
• Consider cross-contamination: Note if items are prepared in shared facilities
• Update when recipes change: Any change could affect allergens

Staff Training

• Educate your team: Everyone should understand allergen importance
• Handle queries confidently: Staff should know how to find allergen information
• Know the procedures: What to do if a customer has concerns
• Document training: Keep records of allergen training

Regular Reviews

• Schedule periodic audits: Review all products quarterly
• Check after supplier changes: New ingredients may have different allergens
• Update seasonal items: Temporary menu items need allergen info too
• Verify after recipe changes: Any modification requires review

Record Keeping

• Document sources: Where did you get allergen information?
• Keep supplier specifications: Retain ingredient data sheets
• Track changes: When and why allergens were updated
• Audit trail: Maintain records for compliance

Legal Requirements

UK and EU Regulations

Food businesses must:

• Declare the 14 major allergens
• Provide information before purchase
• Train staff on allergen awareness
• Maintain accurate records

Your Responsibilities

• Keep information current: Outdated allergen data is dangerous
• Make it accessible: Customers must be able to find information
• Train your team: Staff must be able to answer questions
• Document everything: Maintain compliance records

Troubleshooting

Allergens Not Showing on Storefront

• Check product settings: Ensure allergens are saved to variants
• Verify product is active: Inactive products may not display
• Clear cache: Refresh your storefront

Can’t Find a Specific Allergen

• TypeMenu includes the 14 legally required allergens
• All standard allergens should be available in the selection list
• Contact support if an allergen appears missing

Best Practices Checklist

• All products have allergen information
• Each variant is individually assessed
• Staff are trained on allergen procedures
• Supplier ingredient information is on file
• Allergen data is reviewed quarterly
• Cross-contamination risks are documented
• Customer-facing staff can answer questions
• Changes trigger allergen review

Related Guides

• Products - Product setup and management
• Apps & Integrations - Installing and using apps
• Storefront Guide - How customers see your menu

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Accurate allergen information protects your customers and your business. Take the time to thoroughly document allergens for every product, keep information current, and train your staff to handle allergen queries confidently.