European food law expects restaurants and cafes to clearly declare the 14 major allergen groups in the dishes they serve. When a guest asks "Does this contain nuts?", being able to answer with confidence is both a legal duty and a matter of trust. In this guide we introduce the 14 allergen groups in plain language and explain how to show them accurately and legibly on your menu.
What Are the 14 Major Allergen Groups?
- Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats)
- Crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster)
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Soybeans
- Milk and dairy (including lactose)
- Tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, etc.)
- Celery
- Mustard
- Sesame seeds
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites
- Lupin
- Molluscs (mussels, squid, snails)
How Should You Show Allergens on the Menu?
Good allergen display lets a guest find the information they need within seconds. Placing the relevant allergen labels next to each item is far more readable than a clutter of footnotes on a printed menu. Instead of hunting for footnotes across a busy menu, seeing clear labels such as "milk, gluten" directly under the dish makes life easier for guests and staff alike.
- Place the labels just under the item name, small but legible.
- Always use the same name and icon for the same allergen; consistency builds trust.
- Update the allergen info immediately whenever you change a recipe.
- If there is a cross-contamination risk, note it visibly too.
Show Allergens Automatically with ROXQR
On the ROXQR QR menu you can tag each item with its allergens in a single click and have them shown to the guest with clear icons and labels. Because your menu is multilingual, allergen names are translated into the guest's language too; a tourist sees the "contains milk" warning in their own language. There is no app to install and no setup — you build the menu in minutes. To see all the features, explore our allergen-friendly QR menu solution and try it free.