Allergens & Compliance

How to Manage Allergen Information with a QR Menu

A QR menu showing allergen icons on a phone

When a guest looks at your menu, one question is often on their mind: "Is there anything in this dish that could affect me?" When an allergen like nuts, milk, gluten or shellfish is involved, that question is critical. Printed menus struggle to carry this information; small print, footnotes and frequently changing recipes leave allergen data incomplete or outdated. A QR menu lets you place a clear, readable and instantly updatable allergen notice under every item.

Tag the 14 Allergen Groups on Each Item

European regulations require the 14 main allergen groups to be clearly disclosed to guests. On a QR menu you open each item and tick the groups it contains; the guest sees them as icons and text in the item detail. Here are the 14 groups to track:

  • Cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish and peanuts.
  • Soybeans, milk (including lactose), tree nuts and celery.
  • Mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide and sulphites.
  • Lupin and molluscs.

How to Keep Allergen Information Accurate and Current

  1. Start from the recipe: derive each item's allergens from the actual recipe, not the menu description.
  2. Note cross-contamination: add a "may contain traces" note for items made on shared surfaces.
  3. Update when suppliers change: review the allergen tag whenever an ingredient's brand changes.
  4. Manage from one place: keep all allergen data in the same panel as your menu, no duplicate lists.

Why Multilingual Allergen Notices Matter

When a tourist sees "contains milk" in their own language, they order without hesitation. Offering allergen information only in one language creates risk and uncertainty for international guests. On a multilingual QR menu, allergen labels are translated alongside the item names automatically, creating a safe and fast ordering experience. ROXQR's allergen-friendly QR menu lets you enter this information once and show it consistently in every language.

With ROXQR you build an allergen-friendly, multilingual QR menu in minutes; no app to install, no setup, and you can start with a free trial. You enter allergen information once, changes go live instantly, and the QR code on the table stays the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it mandatory to show allergen information on a QR menu?

European regulations require the 14 allergen groups to be disclosed to guests. A QR menu is the most practical way to present this clearly and keep it current.

How long does it take to update allergen information?

Seconds. In the ROXQR panel you change the item's allergen selection and save; the change goes live in all languages instantly, with no need to reprint the QR code.

Does the guest need to install an app to see allergen info?

No. Scanning the QR opens the menu in the browser; allergen icons and text appear directly in the item detail, with no app or sign-up.

Try ROXQR for Free

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