Food allergens

Allergy labelling legislation: Guidance for businesses selling prepacked and loose foods

On 13 December 2014, the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation 1169/2011 came into force introducing new requirements for food businesses when providing allergen ingredients information on food that is prepacked, sold loose or served when you are eating outside of the home.

The 14 allergens listed in the regulation are as follows:

  • eggs
  • milk
  • fish
  • crustaceans (for example crab, lobster, crayfish, shrimp, prawn)
  • molluscs (for example mussels, oysters, squid)
  • peanuts
  • tree nuts (namely almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, brazils, pistachios, macadamia nuts or Queensland nuts)
  • sesame seeds
  • cereals containing gluten (namely wheat (such as spelt, Khorasan wheat/Kamut), rye, barley, oats, or their hybridised strains)
  • soya
  • celery and celeriac
  • mustard
  • lupin
  • sulphur dioxide and sulphites (at concentration of more than ten parts per million)

If you think your business may be affected by this new legislation and require further information, a number of publications are available to help you understand what is required and also ways to help you comply with the law.

In respect of loose foods, you will find the Allergen Information for Loose Foods publication helpful. This publication is also available in other languages – click on the link below to view or print a copy. In addition, you may also find the allergen matrix chart and allergen signage useful.

In respect of prepacked foods, you will find the Allergy: what to consider when labelling food publication helpful in explaining to you how you can comply with the law.

More information about the new European legislation can be found on the Food Standards Scotland website.

Alternatively, if you would rather speak to an Officer regarding any aspect of the new rules, please contact the Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 0900 to speak to Environmental Health.

If you suffer from an allergy, you may wish to sign up to receive emails notifying UK-wide allergy alerts.

Food safety