- U.S.: Look for a “Contains: [allergen]” statement and for allergens listed in the ingredients. Sesame is now required to be declared.
- EU: The 14 allergens must be emphasized in the ingredients (bold/ALL CAPS). For non-prepacked foods (restaurant menus), allergen information must be available and accurate.
- “May contain” or “Produced in a facility with…” is advisory, not a free pass. Ask the guest how strict they need to be; follow your policy (many venues treat this as unsafe for severe allergies).
- Keep spec sheets for all purchased items; attach to your Allergen Matrix.
Read next: Special Focus Topics