Food allergens

Food businesses such as restaurants, cafes, and takeaways must by law tell customers if any of the main 14 food allergen ingredients are in the food they serve. This means consumers can feel confident to ask about allergenic ingredients when eating out. 

The 14 allergens range from widely known ingredients such as peanuts and milk, to less widely recognised ones such as  mustard and lupin seeds. Food businesses have some flexibility on how they provide the allergen information. It can be given verbally by staff or in writing - for example, on menus or in additional leaflets.

This should reduce the number of reactions caused by people accidentally eating food they are allergic to.

The Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (FIR) have also improved the way allergy information appears on labelling for pre-packed foods bought in shops.

From October 2021, foods which are prepacked for direct sale such as sandwiches put into packaging before they have been ordered have extra requirements. These must have a full ingredients list and the allergenic ingredients should be emphasised within the list.

Visit Food Standards Scotland to read an allergy guide for businesses