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Allergens and diets

Restaurant allergens: the 14 major allergens and dietary requirements, displayed dish by dish on your digital menu

Around the world, diners with allergies must be able to know what their dish contains. Official lists vary by country: 14 allergens in the European Union and the United Kingdom, 9 in the United States, and 8 in Japan. iAlacarte identifies the 14 allergens on the European list, the most comprehensive of the three, as well as buckwheat, corn and nightshades, dish by dish on your digital menu, in 27 languages. It also identifies dietary requirements: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, alcohol-free, halal and pork-free.

Regulations

What the regulations say

Each country sets its own allergen list and information rules. Here are a few reference points:

  • European Union and United Kingdom: 14 allergens must be declared (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II), including for dishes served in restaurants.
  • United States: 9 major allergens, including sesame since 1 January 2023. Labelling requirements primarily apply to packaged products; restaurant-specific rules vary by state.
  • Japan: 8 allergens must be declared, including buckwheat, which is absent from the European list.

Detailed example: France. Decree No. 2015-447 requires every venue serving meals on site to inform customers in writing, legibly and visibly: either by displaying the information itself, or by indicating how to access it, provided they can access it directly and freely. Oral information alone is not sufficient.

iAlacarte relies on the European list of 14, which includes the 9 major US allergens, and also identifies buckwheat, which is mandatory in Japan. If your country adds others, check the local rule: the ingredients of every dish remain displayed on its page.

This page is not legal advice: if in doubt, refer to your country's health authority.

Reference list

The 14 major allergens

The European Union reference list, which includes the 9 major US allergens.

Gluten

Cereals containing gluten: wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut.

Crustaceans

Shrimp, crab, lobster, langoustines…

Eggs

And egg products.

Fish

And fish products.

Peanuts

Peanuts and derived products.

Soy

And soy products.

Dairy

Including lactose.

Nuts

Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts.

Celery

And celery products.

Mustard

And mustard products.

Sesame

Sesame seeds and derived products.

Sulphites

Sulphur dioxide and sulphites above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/L.

Lupin

And lupin products.

Molluscs

Mussels, oysters, squid, snails…

Information is extracted from declared ingredients, supplemented by hidden allergens typical of each preparation, then presented to the customer with cautious wording.

Diets

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, alcohol-free, halal, pork-free

🌿

Vegetarian

Filters out dishes containing meat or fish, with attention to broths and animal fats.

🍃

Vegan

Strict exclusion of animal-derived products, including honey and certain additives.

🍞

Gluten-free

Identification of gluten in cereals, sauces, breadings, and side dishes.

🍺

Alcohol-free

Filters out dishes with cooking alcohol, marinades, sauces, and desserts.

☪

Halal

Filtering based on the establishment's declarations, without universal certification.

🐷

Pork-free

Identification of pork and its derivatives (gelatin, charcuterie, broths).

Support

Is a digital menu or QR code enough?

In most regulations, written and freely accessible information is acceptable; this is the case in France, provided the customer can access it without having to ask for it. With iAlacarte, every dish page displays its allergens, and customers can filter the menu according to theirs.

As a precaution, also keep a written backup for customers without a smartphone, and check your country's rules.

Detection

Hidden allergens and caution

Some allergens are rarely declared explicitly: traces of tree nuts, gluten in soy sauce, milk in a purée, sulfites in a wine. iAlacarte flags these typical cross-contamination risks.

The AI never guarantees the absence of an allergen: it alerts, warns, and redirects to the team in case of doubt.

Alternatives

When the menu allows, suggest an alternative

Rather than simply replying "this dish contains gluten" and stopping there, iAlacarte suggests one or two compatible alternatives from the evening's menu, justified by the ingredient or preparation.

If the menu contains no compatible option, the AI says so clearly rather than making something up.

Safeguard

Mandatory confirmation for severe allergies

For any severe allergy (anaphylaxis, extreme sensitivity), information provided by iAlacarte does not replace confirmation with the front-of-house or kitchen team. The AI reminds the customer to confirm with the team.
Control

Validation and correction by the establishment

The restaurant owner corrects a dish's ingredients from their dashboard: allergens are recalculated and each allergen indicates the ingredient it comes from. The correction immediately applies to the AI's answers and remains saved even after a new menu analysis.

For compliance, see also the anti-hallucination architecture and Terms of Use & liability limitations.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about allergens and diets

What are the 14 major allergens?
Gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soy, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites, lupin and molluscs. This is the European Union and United Kingdom list; the United States lists 9 and Japan 8.
Is allergen information mandatory in restaurants?
In the European Union and the United Kingdom, yes, for every dish served. Elsewhere, rules vary by country: check with your local health authority.
Can customers be informed orally only?
Not in France, where the information must be available in writing. Elsewhere, it depends on local regulations; written information remains the safest solution everywhere.
Is a digital menu or QR code accepted?
Generally yes, if the information remains written and freely accessible. Provide a backup option for customers without a smartphone.
Are buckwheat, corn and nightshades regulated allergens?
Not in the European Union: they are not among the 14. Buckwheat is, however, mandatory in Japan. iAlacarte identifies all three in addition to the 14, for customers with allergies or intolerances.
Who is responsible for allergen accuracy?
The establishment. iAlacarte calculates allergens from your menu ingredients; you check and correct them from your dashboard.
How do I indicate vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free dishes?
iAlacarte derives them from each dish's ingredients and displays them on the dish page; customers can filter the menu or ask the chat directly, in 27 languages.
Can a dish be labelled halal without certification?
No. iAlacarte displays “halal” or “kosher” only if your menu states it; it never infers it on its own.
Sources

Official sources

Related reading

Nutrition & public healthAnti-hallucination architectureTerms of Service & limitations of liabilityAuthoritative references

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