How to Build an Allergen Matrix for Your SFBB Pack (Free Template)
If an EHO inspector asks to see your allergen information on a busy day, an allergen matrix is the document that saves you. It's one page — usually a grid of dishes (rows) against the 14 allergens (columns) — that tells any staff member at a glance what every item on your menu contains.
It's not legally required to be a matrix specifically, but it's the standard way food businesses in the UK prove they can "provide allergen information to customers" under the Food Information Regulations 2014. And if you work with the FSA's Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) pack — the management system most food trucks and small caterers use — an allergen matrix is a core part of it.
This guide shows you how to build one properly. And if you just want the finished thing, grab the free Excel allergen matrix template — it's ready to fill in.
What an allergen matrix looks like
A classic matrix is a table:
- Rows = every dish you sell (even the specials, even the free extras)
- Columns = the 14 legal allergens
- Cells = whether that allergen is in the dish (✓), or may be present through cross-contact ("may contain"), or is not present (blank)
Some businesses add extra columns for vegan, vegetarian, halal or gluten-free claims because customers ask about them constantly. That's fine — and it's exactly the kind of filtering a digital QR menu gives you automatically.
How to build it in 5 steps
- List every dish — including drinks, sides, sauces and limited-time specials. If it leaves your counter, it goes on the matrix.
- Pull the recipe for each dish — read the ingredient labels of everything you use. Don't rely on memory; brands change recipes.
- Map the 14 allergens — go ingredient by ingredient and tick every allergen present. Watch hidden ones: Worcestershire sauce (fish/anchovy), soy sauce (gluten, soya), paprika blends (celery), dried fruit (sulphites), stock cubes (gluten, celery, mustard).
- Add a trace row or column for cross-contact — shared fryers, shared prep boards and bulk oil mean "may contain" entries. Be honest; it protects you and the customer.
- Train the team and review monthly — the matrix only helps if staff can read it in 10 seconds and you update it the day a recipe changes.
5 mistakes that fail EHO inspections
| Mistake | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Using ticks instead of the allergen names | A tick says nothing to a customer who asks "what exactly is in this?". Write the allergen names out. |
| Forgetting trace / "may contain" allergens | If the fryer is shared, that's a trace risk for gluten. Honest "may contain" entries protect you and the customer. |
| Not updating when the recipe changes | Recipe changes are the #1 way a matrix goes stale. Update the matrix the same day you change the recipe. |
| A matrix that staff can't read fast | If it takes more than a glance to answer "does the burger have mustard?", it will fail under pressure. Keep it simple. |
| No named owner | Someone specific should own the matrix, update it and train the team. "Everyone" means nobody. |
Matrix vs digital menu: which do you need?
The honest answer is both:
- The matrix is your internal compliance document — for staff, for EHOs, for your SFBB pack.
- The customer-facing menu is how guests actually find out what they can eat.
A paper matrix does neither job well for customers on a busy street-food pitch. That's why SafeMenu keeps one source of truth for each dish's allergens, prints the matrix to Excel or PDF for your SFBB pack and publishes a scannable QR menu where customers filter out their allergens themselves. One set of data, two outputs.
Get the free template
Download the free Excel allergen matrix template — pre-formatted with the 14 allergens, ✓ / "may contain" / blank cells, and a notes column. Fill it in once, print it for your SFBB pack, and you'll be inspection-ready.
Or skip the spreadsheet entirely: start SafeMenu's free 14-day trial, enter your dishes once, and get your matrix export + customer QR menu together.
Looking for a Printable Allergen Matrix Template?
If you need a ready-to-use, printable Allergen Matrix template display board for your food truck, cafe counter or kitchen wall during EHO inspections:
View 5-Star Food Hygiene Allergen Matrix on Etsy →Disclaimer: This article is for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Always check the latest FSA guidance and your local authority requirements.