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The 14 Allergens Checklist (UK)
Under UK food law (Food Information Regulations 2014), there are 14 allergens you must declare. Here's the full list with examples, plus a free checklist you can print.
The 14 Legal Allergens
1. Celery
Examples: celery stalks, celeriac, celery salt
2. Cereals containing gluten
Examples: wheat (spelt, Khorasan), rye, barley, oats
3. Crustaceans
Examples: crabs, lobster, prawns, scampi
4. Eggs
Examples: eggs in sauces, mayonnaise, pasta, cakes
5. Fish
Examples: anchovies, salmon, tuna, fish sauce
6. Lupin
Examples: lupin flour, lupin in pasta or pastry
7. Milk
Examples: butter, cheese, cream, yoghurt
8. Molluscs
Examples: mussels, oysters, squid, snails
9. Mustard
Examples: mustard powder, liquid mustard, mustard seeds
10. Tree nuts
Examples: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios
11. Peanuts
Examples: groundnuts, peanut butter, satay sauce
12. Sesame seeds
Examples: sesame oil, tahini, bread toppings
13. Soybeans
Examples: tofu, soy sauce, tempeh, edamame
14. Sulphur dioxide & sulphites
Examples: dried fruit, wine, vinegar (above 10 ppm)
Free Printable Checklist
Print it and keep it near your prep area — or skip paper entirely and digitise it.
How to stay compliant
- Menu: state allergens for each dish — 'contains nuts' or 'may contain' where there's cross-contamination risk.
- Labels: for pre-packed foods (PPDS), list allergens in the ingredients — that's Natasha's Law.
- Staff: everyone who serves food should know the 14 allergens and how to answer customer questions.
- Records: keep an up-to-date allergen matrix so an EHO inspection is a 10-minute check, not a scramble.
Free tools to help
Turn this checklist into a working system with our free tools: