The 14 EU Food Allergens: Full List and Where They Hide

The EU requires 14 allergens to be declared on food. The rule comes from Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information for consumers. It also covers food that is not pre-packaged, such as meals in restaurants, canteens and at deli counters. Each member state decides how businesses must provide the information (in writing or verbally).

This article is an overview. It does not replace medical advice or information from the staff at a particular venue.

The list of 14 allergens

1. Cereals containing gluten

Wheat (including spelt and khorasan), rye, barley, oats and their hybridised varieties. You will find them in bread, pasta, pizza and baked goods, but also in thickened soups, sauces, breaded meat and beer.

2. Crustaceans

Prawns, crayfish, crabs and lobsters. They also hide in fish soups, paella, Asian sauces and pastes (for example shrimp paste in Thai cooking).

3. Eggs

Eggs and products made from them. Besides breakfast dishes, they are in mayonnaise, dressings, pasta, baked goods, cakes, breaded dishes and some sauces.

4. Fish

Fish and products made from it. Watch out for fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Caesar salad dressing and some pastes and soups.

5. Peanuts

Peanuts are a legume, not a tree nut, and they have their own place on the list. You will find them in peanut butter, peanut oil, Asian dishes, dressings and confectionery.

6. Soybeans

Soya and products made from it: soy sauce, tofu, edamame, miso and tempeh. Soya protein is also added to meat products, baked goods and ready meals.

7. Milk (including lactose)

Milk and dairy products: butter, cream, cheese, yoghurt and whey. They also hide in sauces, purées, baked goods, chocolate and breaded dishes. A milk protein allergy and lactose intolerance are two different problems (see Allergy, intolerance and coeliac disease).

8. Tree nuts

Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios and macadamia nuts. You will find them in muesli, snack bars, cakes, pesto, spreads and some sauces.

9. Celery

The root, the leaves and the seeds of celery. It is often in soups, stocks, vegetable mixes, spice blends and stock cubes.

10. Mustard

Mustard and products made from it: mustard itself, dressings, marinades, ketchups, mayonnaises and spice blends.

11. Sesame seeds

Sesame and products made from it: tahini, hummus, sesame oil, bread topped with sesame, falafel and Asian dishes.

12. Sulphur dioxide and sulphites

A preservative that must be declared when present at more than 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l. It is typically found in wine, dried fruit, pickled vegetables, juices and some meat products.

13. Lupin

A legume whose flour is added to baked goods, pasta and gluten-free products. Cross-reactions with peanut allergy sometimes occur, so it is worth discussing with a doctor.

14. Molluscs

Snails, mussels, oysters, octopus and squid. This is a different group from crustaceans, even though the two often appear together in seafood dishes.

How to find them on labels and menus

On pre-packaged food, the allergen must be emphasised in the ingredients list (usually in bold, capital letters or underlined). In a restaurant, you will find it on the menu, often as a number next to each dish with a legend at the end, or the staff can tell you. On Slovak menus the numbers usually follow the order of the list above, but that is a convention, not a legal rule, so always check the legend. The daily lunch menu ("denné menu") often carries them too.

The wording "may contain traces" is voluntary and is not regulated uniformly. It is not applied under common rules, so its absence does not mean there is no risk of cross-contamination.

What this means in practice

• The list of 14 allergens is the minimum that must be declared. Not everyone is allergic to one of these particular foods.
• Menu labelling can be incomplete or out of date, so it is worth asking at the venue.
• We explain how to ask in How to ask about allergens in a restaurant.

AvoiDino covers all 14 allergens. Set yours in the app and find restaurants and dishes that match your filter.

Frequently asked questions

Which allergens must be declared in the EU?

There are 14: cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide and sulphites, lupin and molluscs. The rule comes from Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.

Do restaurants have to declare allergens too?

Yes. The rules also apply to food that is not pre-packaged, such as restaurant meals. Each member state decides whether the information is given in writing or verbally.

Are peanuts the same as tree nuts?

No. Peanuts are a legume and have their own place on the list. Tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews and so on) are listed separately.

Are crustaceans and molluscs the same group?

No, they are two separate allergens. They often appear together in seafood dishes, but each has its own entry on the list.

Does "may contain traces" mean a product is safe if it is missing?

No. The wording is voluntary and not regulated uniformly, so its absence does not mean contamination is impossible.

Sources

• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers, Annex II (list of substances causing allergies or intolerances) and Article 44 (non-prepacked food).

This information is general and does not replace medical advice. If you have an allergy, always check the ingredients with the staff.