Restaurant Allergen Laws by Country: US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and India (2026 Reference Table)

Last reviewed: October 2026. Every legal point on this page links to the law or regulator that states it.

The UK and EU require information on 14 allergens for all food, restaurant dishes included. Australia and New Zealand require declarations for unlabeled food on display or on request. The US labels packaged food for 9 allergens, and California requires written menu disclosure at large chains. Canada's federal rules cover prepackaged food. India requires allergen information for prepared food and on large chains' menus.

This page is a reference for restaurant groups, consultants, trainers and writers who need the rules side by side. It starts with one master table, then gives a short, sourced section for each jurisdiction. If you only need one region, our guide to the 14 EU allergens goes deeper on Europe.

Restaurant Allergen Laws by Country: Master Comparison Table

"Non-prepacked" means food sold without packaging or packed at the customer's request, which covers most restaurant dishes.

Which Allergens Each Jurisdiction Lists

This is the table most multi-country menus need. "Yes" means the item is on that jurisdiction's mandatory allergen list. Check the section notes for exemptions and exact wording.

1. United States: FALCPA, FASTER Act, FDA Food Code and California SB 68

Federal labeling law. The FDA explains that the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) "identified eight foods as major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans." The FASTER Act was signed on 23 April 2021 and made sesame the 9th major food allergen. The FDA states: "The change was effective on January 1, 2023."

Does FALCPA cover restaurants? Mostly not. The FDA says its labeling requirements "extend to retail and food-service establishments that package, label, and offer products for human consumption." But they "do not apply to foods that are placed in a wrapper or container (such as paper or a box for a sandwich) following a customer's order at the point of purchase." The FDA says it enforces the law "in most packaged food products", and that this does not include "most foods sold at retail or food service establishments that are not pre-packaged with a label."

Two more federal points:

• The allergen's food source must appear in the ingredients list (for example "flour (wheat)") or in a "Contains" statement. The type of tree nut and species of fish or shellfish must be named.
• "May contain" statements "are not required by law". The FDA has "not established a threshold level for any allergens."

FDA Food Code (added in 2022, retained in the 2026 edition). The Food Code is FDA's model code for restaurants and retail food. Section 3-602.12(C) says, in the same words in the 2022 edition and the 2026 edition FDA published in September 2026: "The PERMIT HOLDER shall notify CONSUMERS by written notification of the presence of MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS as an ingredient in unPACKAGED FOOD items that are served or sold to the CONSUMER." This paragraph was new in 2022 and the 2026 edition keeps it. The Code's guidance annex says the notice can be "physical or electronic", for example brochures, menu notifications, table tents or placards. Section 2-103.11(O) also requires that employees are trained in food allergy awareness.

The Food Code is not federal law. Its preface says it "is neither federal law nor federal regulation and is not preemptive." It binds a restaurant only after its state or local health authority adopts it, and jurisdictions adopt different editions. Check which edition your health department enforces.

California SB 68 (ADDE Act). According to the California Department of Public Health:

• Start date: "Commencing July 1, 2026".
• Who: a food facility subject to 21 U.S.C. 343(q)(5)(H), which is the federal menu labeling rule for "a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name (regardless of the type of ownership of the location)."
• What: "written notification of major food allergens that the food facility knows or reasonably should know are contained as ingredients in each menu item."
• How: directly on the menu, or in a digital format "including, but not limited to, using a quick response (QR) code" that links to a digital menu, together with an "alternative method" such as an allergen menu, chart, grid or booklet.
• Exclusions: compact mobile food facility operations and nonpermanent food facilities. CDPH also says items offered for less than 60 days a year, or fewer than 90 consecutive days to test consumer acceptance, are exempt.

The bill text is on the California Legislative Information site. Questions go to the CDPH Food and Drug Branch.

Other states. Some states and cities have their own allergen rules, such as notices or staff training. We have not listed them here because we could not verify each one against an official source at the time of review. Ask your state or local health department.

2. United Kingdom: 14 Allergens, Natasha's Law and FSA Best Practice

Allergens. The UK uses the same 14 allergens as the EU, kept in assimilated Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. The FSA's best practice guidance lists them with their exemptions.

Restaurant dishes (non-prepacked food). Under regulation 5 of the Food Information Regulations 2014 (England), a business may give allergen information "by any means the operator chooses, including... orally". If it is given orally, the business "must indicate that details... can be obtained by asking a member of staff" on a label, notice, menu or ticket. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have equivalent regulations.

PPDS food (Natasha's Law). Since 1 October 2021, food packed on the premises before the customer orders it must carry the name of the food and a full ingredients list with allergens emphasized. The FSA explains this in its guidance for restaurants, cafes and pubs. In England the rule is in SI 2019/1218. In Scotland it is in SSI 2021/70.

2025 best practice. On 24 February 2025 the FSA published guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It says best practice is written allergen information plus a conversation. The legal minimum "has not changed." It also says digital formats need "an alternative way of accessing the information". Its next scheduled review is September 2026.

Penalties. In England, failure to provide allergen information is an offence under regulation 10. The fine limit in regulation 11 is level 5, which section 85 of LASPO 2012 made unlimited in England and Wales.

3. European Union: Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II and National Rules

The 14 allergens. Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 lists cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide and sulphites, lupin and molluscs. The Regulation applies "from 13 December 2014" (Article 55).

Restaurants. Article 44(1)(a) states that for food sold without prepackaging, "the provision of the particulars specified in point (c) of Article 9(1) is mandatory". Point (c) is the allergen information. Article 44(2) lets Member States "adopt national measures concerning the means through which" it is made available.

Emphasis on labels. Article 21 requires allergens in an ingredients list to be emphasized "for example by means of the font, style or background colour". Without an ingredients list, the indication must use "the word 'contains' followed by the name of the substance or product".

National rules differ. Two examples, checked against the national source:

• Ireland: the FSAI says businesses "must indicate food allergens in writing for non-prepacked food". Customers "must not have to ask for the information." The legal basis is S.I. No. 489 of 2014, updated by S.I. No. 656 of 2024. The FSAI accepts information beside each menu item or in a central place, in hard copy or electronic format, if it is clearly signposted.
• Germany: section 4 of the LMIDV lets businesses give allergen information on a sign, on menus, by a notice, or by other written or electronic means. Electronic means need a notice that says how the information is provided. Oral information is allowed if a written or electronic record of the ingredients exists, is available on request, and a visible notice says so.

For a restaurant-focused summary of the EU rules, see our posts on the 14 EU allergens and EU allergen regulations for QR menus.

4. Canada: Priority Food Allergens and Prepackaged Labeling

Priority allergens. Health Canada lists these priority food allergens: eggs, milk, mustard, peanuts, crustaceans and molluscs, fish, sesame seeds, soy, sulphites, tree nuts, and wheat and triticale. Gluten sources must also be declared. The CFIA names them as wheat (including spelt and kamut), oats, barley, rye and triticale.

Labeling rules. The CFIA says food allergens, gluten and added sulphites "must be declared" on prepackaged products. "Added sulphites at levels of 10 ppm or more" must be declared. The source can appear in the list of ingredients or in a "Contains" statement. The enhanced rules came into force on 4 August 2012, when mustard seed was also added to the definition of a food allergen.

Restaurants. These rules apply to prepackaged products. The CFIA also lists exemptions from the ingredients list, including "prepackaged individual portions of food intended solely to be served with meals or snacks by restaurants". We found no federal rule that requires allergen information on restaurant menus. Provincial and municipal food safety rules may add duties, so check with your local public health unit.

5. Australia and New Zealand: Standard 1.2.3 and PEAL

Australia and New Zealand share one Food Standards Code, managed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Allergen declarations are in Standard 1.2.3 and Schedule 9.

Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL). FSANZ says it "approved the new requirements in 2021". Businesses "had three years to transition and since 25 February 2024, food labels have had to comply". Food packed and labelled before 25 February 2024 under the old rules could be sold until 25 February 2026.

Required names. The FSANZ business guidance lists: wheat, fish, crustacean, mollusc, egg, milk, lupin, peanut, soy, sesame, almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pistachio, pine nut and walnut. Barley, oats and rye must be declared if they contain gluten. Sulphites must be declared when added at 10 mg/kg or more.

Labels. Packaged food needs the allergen in bold in the ingredients list, plus a separate bold summary statement starting with "Contains".

Restaurants and cafes. FSANZ states: "For food not required to bear a label (such as food provided at a café or takeaway), declarations must be displayed in connection with the food or provided to the purchaser upon request using the required names." So a cafe must use "almond", not "nuts", and "milk", not "casein". FSANZ also notes that "may contain" statements "are not regulated by the Food Standards Code".

6. India: FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020

Allergens. Regulation 5(14) of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 requires these to be "declared separately as Contains": cereals containing gluten (declared by the cereal name), crustacean, milk, egg, fish, peanuts and tree nuts (declared as "Nut"), soy, and sulphite at 10 mg/kg or more. Cross-contamination may be declared as "May Contain". Sesame, mustard, celery, lupin and molluscs are not on the list.

Restaurants and caterers. Regulation 8(4) says prepared food served for immediate consumption, "such as in hotels or by food service vendors or caterers", "shall accompany or display" minimum information at the point of sale or service. That includes "information relating to allergen" and the veg or non-veg logo.

Large chains. Regulation 9 (Chapter 3) covers "Food Service Establishments having Central license or outlets at 10 or more locations". They must show calories per serving against menu items. Regulation 9(2) adds that food service establishments "shall also mention" allergen information against food items on menu cards or boards, and "the allergens may be depicted by easy to understand symbols". Event caterers and premises operating less than 60 days a year are excluded, as are special-order or modified items. Check with your state food safety authority how this applies to your outlet.

Dates. Regulation 1(3) required compliance with Chapter 3 "by 1st January, 2022". The FSSAI compendium notes compliance from 1 July 2022 under a direction dated 22 October 2021. If you run a single outlet, ask your state food safety office how regulations 8(4) and 9 apply to you.

What This Means for Multi-Country Menus

If you run sites in more than one jurisdiction, or serve many international guests, these steps keep one data set accurate everywhere:

• Build one superset list. Track all 14 UK and EU allergens, then add what others need: individual tree nuts and pine nut for Australia and New Zealand, and the separate wheat and gluten distinction.
• Record the specific nut, cereal, fish and shellfish. The US requires the type of tree nut and the species of fish or shellfish on labels. Australia and New Zealand require named tree nuts. The UK FSA recommends naming the nut or cereal.
• Use each jurisdiction's names on the guest-facing menu. Australia and New Zealand, for example, require "required names" such as "milk" and "soy".
• Keep a non-digital fallback. The UK FSA and California both describe digital information together with another way to access it.
• Treat "may contain" separately. It warns about possible cross-contact. It is not a substitute for declaring an allergen that is an ingredient, as the FSAI notes.
• Re-check after each recipe or supplier change, and keep a dated record of what changed.

A digital menu can hold this data in one place. On Pro, QR Menu Generator lets you tag each dish with the 14 UK and EU allergens and gives diners an allergen filter. AI translation is also on Pro. Pro and Pro Plus include a menu change audit log with CSV export. The business enters the allergen data and stays responsible for it. Software does not make a menu compliant on its own, and the tags show allergen groups, so add the specific nut or cereal to the dish description. If you serve guests in many languages, see our multilingual menu guide.

Methodology and Sources

We reviewed this page in October 2026 against primary sources: legislation, official regulator guidance and government agency pages. We quoted the source wording for key legal points. We left out any rule we could not confirm from an official source. That is why other US state laws are not listed.

Notes on specific sources:

• EU: Article text was checked against the Regulation as adopted, published on legislation.gov.uk, and linked to EUR-Lex.
• India: the FSSAI website did not load during our review. We read an archived copy of the official FSSAI compendium of the Labelling and Display Regulations (Version VIII, 9 September 2025) and linked the FSSAI address.
• California: details come from the CDPH SB 68 guidance page, which is the enforcing agency's summary.
• Allergen counts: Canada's count follows the Health Canada priority list, where "crustaceans and molluscs" and "wheat and triticale" are single entries.

Primary sources used:

• US: FDA, Food Allergies; FDA Food Code; CDPH, SB 68 Major Food Allergens; SB 68 bill text
• UK: Food Information Regulations 2014; SI 2019/1218; SSI 2021/70; FSA best practice guidance (2025); FSA PPDS guidance
• EU: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011; FSAI; S.I. No. 489 of 2014; LMIDV section 4
• Canada: Health Canada, Food allergies; CFIA, List of ingredients and allergens; CFIA, Allergens and gluten
• Australia and New Zealand: Standard 1.2.3; FSANZ, Allergen labelling for food businesses
• India: FSSAI, Labelling and Display Regulations compendium

Cite This Page

You are welcome to cite or link to this table. Please credit it as:

"Restaurant Allergen Laws by Country: US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and India." QR Menu Generator. Last reviewed October 2026. https://qrmenugenerator.io/blog/restaurant-allergen-laws-by-country

If you spot a change in the law, tell us through the contact page and we will review it.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes laws and official guidance for general information only. Laws change, and local and national rules can add duties not listed here. Check the linked official sources and ask your local food safety authority or a qualified lawyer before you make compliance decisions.