Allergen labelling: EU 14 allergens vs US Big-9
Short answer: In the EU and UK, the 14 allergens in Annex II of Regulation 1169/2011 must be emphasised in the ingredient list, usually in bold. The US has nine major allergens under FALCPA and the FASTER Act, declared in a 'Contains' statement or the ingredient list. Allergen rules apply even when a food is exempt from nutrition labelling.
By the Free Nutrition Label team · Last reviewed: · Not legal advice.
EU and UK
Annex II of Regulation 1169/2011 lists 14 substances. Article 21 requires them to be emphasised in the ingredient list – bold is the most common way. If there is no ingredient list, use "Contains: …". The UK also requires full allergen labelling on prepacked-for-direct-sale food (Natasha's Law, since October 2021).
United States
Nine major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame (sesame added from 1 January 2023). Celery, mustard, lupin, molluscs and sulphites are not on the US list (sulphites have separate rules above 10 ppm).
How the generator detects allergens
It flags common ingredients by name (e.g. butter → milk, flour → gluten). This is a helper, not a guarantee: composite ingredients such as chocolate or stock may contain allergens not visible in the name. Always check supplier specification sheets.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (EUR-Lex)
- FSA – Allergen guidance for food businesses
- FDA – Food allergies: what you need to know
FAQ
What are the 14 EU allergens?
Cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (>10 mg/kg), lupin and molluscs (Annex II, Reg. 1169/2011).
How must allergens be shown in the EU?
In the ingredient list, emphasised by a typeset that clearly distinguishes them, e.g. bold (Article 21).