Allergens Under Control 🛡️
AI reads your items and marks the 14 required EU allergens. Avoid fines and protect your guests.
The Real Cost of Allergen Mistakes
In the European Union, Regulation 1169/2011 requires all food business operators to declare the 14 main allergens on their menu. A violation can result in fines ranging from 600 to 600,000 euros, plus the real health risk for allergic customers.
The problem is not lack of willingness. It is that managing allergens manually across a menu of 80-120 products is an enormous task. You have to review ingredients, know about hidden allergens (mustard in a sauce, sulfites in wine), and update everything each time a recipe changes. Many restaurants simply write "ask your waiter" as an emergency solution.
IAMenu uses contextual artificial intelligence to automatically detect the 14 mandatory allergens. It does not just read explicit ingredients: it understands that a pizza contains gluten from the dough, that a gratin contains dairy from the bechamel, and that an aioli contains egg and sulfites. It is like having a food safety inspector working 24 hours.
How AI Allergen Detection Works
Deep Contextual Analysis
When you create or edit a product, our "Super Chef" AI analyzes the dish name, listed ingredients, category (Pizzas, Seafood, Desserts), and subcategory. This context allows it to infer allergens that a keyword-based system would never catch.
Instant Detection
In less than 2 seconds, Super Chef identifies all allergens present and automatically marks them with standardized EU icons. The process is invisible: you do not need to do anything beyond creating your product.
Full Chef Control
You always have the final word. You can confirm, modify, or dismiss the AI suggestions. Once you mark an allergen as "reviewed", the AI respects your decision and will not overwrite it in future updates.
How Does It Work?
You don't have to manually check boxes. Simply write 'Pizza with wheat flour and cheese' and GASTON will right away detect: GLUTEN and DAIRY.
The 14 Allergens We Detect:
Numbers That Matter
Full EU Regulation 1169/2011 compliance
Advanced contextual detection
Analysis time per product
Icons and names translated
EU Regulation 1169/2011: What You Need to Know
EU Regulation No. 1169/2011 on food information to consumers came into force in December 2014. It requires that every food business operator offering unpackaged food (restaurants, bars, cafes, catering, and hotels) must inform customers about the presence of the 14 main allergens.
A generic listing is not enough. The information must be available BEFORE the customer places their order, whether on the physical menu, digital menu, or through oral indication supported by written documentation available on request. Penalties vary by country: in Spain, they can reach 600,000 euros for very serious violations.
IAMenu helps you comply with this regulation automatically, without specialized training, without external consultants, and without risk of human error.
Real Use Cases
Italian Restaurant with 95 Dishes
Before: The chef manually reviewed ingredients each season. 2 days of work. Even then, 3 dishes had incorrect allergens due to supplier changes.
With IAMenu: When any product is updated, Super Chef re-analyzes automatically. If an ingredient changes, allergens update in real time. Zero errors.
4-Star Hotel with International Buffet
Before: 4 languages, 120 dishes, allergens in 3 of them. Allergic guests asked the waiter, who did not always know.
With IAMenu: QR digital menu with 14 allergens visible per dish in the guest language. The customer scans and instantly sees what is safe. No questions needed.
Tapas Chain with 8 Locations
Before: Each location managed allergens separately. Inconsistencies between venues. A health inspection found errors in 3 of 8 locations.
With IAMenu: Centralized menu. One change propagates to all locations. Allergens always synchronized. Inspection passed at all locations.
AI Detection vs Manual Management
| Criteria | Manual | IAMenu AI |
|---|---|---|
| Time per product | 5-10 min | < 2 sec |
| Hidden allergens | Depends on chef | Contextual detection |
| Updates | Manual each time | Automatic |
| Multi-language | Separate translation | 29 languages included |
| Monthly cost | Work hours | Included in plan |
Note: Always review scans. AI is an aid, but the final responsibility lies with the operator.
Frequently Asked Questions about AI Allergens
Does AI replace the chef in allergen management?
No. AI is an assistance tool. It detects allergens automatically based on ingredients and context, but the final responsibility always lies with the food business operator. You can confirm, modify, or reject any suggestion.
What about allergens not in the ingredients?
Super Chef uses contextual analysis. If a dish is in the "Pizzas" category, it infers gluten from the dough even if you do not list it. If it is a "Paella", it infers crustaceans and fish. This gastronomic context is what differentiates IAMenu from a simple keyword searcher.
Does it work with international cuisine?
Yes. Super Chef has global gastronomy knowledge: it knows that miso contains soy, that naan contains dairy, that pad thai may contain peanuts, and that ceviche has fish and possible sulfites from the lime.
Can I add allergens that the AI did not detect?
Yes. You can manually mark any allergen. Once marked as "reviewed", the AI will not overwrite it. This is useful for cross-contamination or ingredients that do not appear in the dish name.
Are allergens translated to other languages?
Yes. All 14 allergens have official translations in 29 languages. When a German customer scans your QR menu, they see allergens with standardized icons and names in German. No additional work required.
Which plans include allergen detection?
Automatic AI allergen detection is available on Professional and Premium plans. The Free plan allows manual allergen marking.
Does it comply with regulations outside Europe?
The 14 EU allergens cover most global requirements. In the USA, 9 main allergens are required (all included in the 14 EU). In the UK, Natasha's Law applies. IAMenu covers both regulations.
Over 200 European restaurants trust IAMenu to manage their allergens safely.