Complete Guide: 14 Mandatory Allergens in EU Restaurants 2025
Why Is It Mandatory to Display Allergens on the Menu?
Food allergies affect 2-4% of adults and 6-8% of children in Europe. A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can be fatal within minutes.
That’s why the EU implemented the Regulation 1169/2011, which requires all establishments serving food to clearly inform about the presence of 14 major allergens.
Who Does It Apply To?
- ✅ Restaurants and bars
- ✅ Cafés and bakeries
- ✅ Hotels with food service
- ✅ School and corporate cafeterias
- ✅ Food trucks and stalls
- ✅ Delivery and take-away
In summary: If you sell prepared food, you must inform about allergens.
The 14 Mandatory Allergens (Complete List)
Dónde se esconde: Salsas espesadas con harina, tempuras, pan rallado en albóndigas, pastillas de caldo, cerveza en adobos, obleas, embutidos.
Dónde se esconde: Caldo de marisco, paellas, pastas con salsa marinera, surimi, crema de nécoras, aceites aromatizados, pasta de gambas asiática.
Dónde se esconde: Mayonesa, rebozados, pastas al huevo, postres, salsas (holandesa, bearnesa), vinos clarificados con albúmina, baños para dar brillo a panes.
Dónde se esconde: Salsa Worcestershire (Perrins), salsa César, tapenade, caldos, gelatinas, sushi, surimi, salsa de pescado asiática.
Dónde se esconde: Salsas tailandesas, satay, currys, chocolates, galletas, aceites aromáticos, mantequilla de cacahuete en postres o marinados.
Dónde se esconde: Salsa de soja, edamame, tofu, pan para hamburguesas, carnes procesadas, atún enlatado, caldos industriales, margarinas, chocolates.
Dónde se esconde: Salsas (bechamel, roquefort), purés, cremas, postres, mantequilla para marcar carnes, queso rallado oculto, suero de leche en panes.
Dónde se esconde: Salsa pesto (piñones/nueces), romesco, ensaladas, postres, mazapanes, turrones, aceites de nuez, decoración de platos.
Dónde se esconde: Sopas, caldos, fondos oscuros, ensaladas, sal de apio, especias mixtas, zumos vegetales, kétchup.
Dónde se esconde: Salsas, aliños, marinadas, currys, carnes procesadas, perritos calientes, hamburguesas, mayonesas especiales.
Dónde se esconde: Pan de hamburguesa, hummus, tahini, sushi, ensaladas orientales, galletas saladas, falafel.
Dónde se esconde: Vino para cocinar, vinagres, frutos secos procesados, frutas desecadas (orejones, pasas), encurtidos, zumos comerciales, conservas.
Dónde se esconde: Harinas (mezcladas con trigo), panes, pastelería, aperitivos (los típicos chochos).
Dónde se esconde: Salsa de ostras, caldos de pescado, paellas, fideuás, surimi, croquetas de marisco, tintas de calamar.
Fines for Non-Compliance with Allergen Regulations
Penalties in Spain:
In addition to fines: Temporary closure of the establishment, civil liability for damages, and possible criminal liability if there are serious injuries.
How to Display Allergens on Your Menu
The law requires that the information be clear and accessible. There are several valid ways:
Valid Methods
- • Icons next to each dish
- • List of allergens at the end of the menu
- • Numeric codes (1-14) with a legend
- • Bold text within ingredients
- • Digital menu with allergen filters
NOT Valid
- • "Ask the waiter" with no further info
- • Information only verbally
- • Very small or illegible text
- • Only in one language (if you have foreign customers)
- • Outdated information
The Problem: Detecting Allergens Is Tedious
If you have 100 products on your menu, checking each one for the 14 allergens is a huge task:
- • Does the carbonara have eggs? Yes (in the traditional recipe)
- • Does the pesto have nuts? Yes (pine nuts)
- • Does the Worcestershire sauce have fish? Yes (anchovies)
- • Does the hamburger bun have sesame? Depends on the supplier
- • Does the soup have celery? Probably, if you use sofrito
Many allergens are "hidden" in ingredients you wouldn't suspect.
The Solution: Automatic Allergen Detection with AI
IAMenu uses artificial intelligence (GPT-4) to automatically analyze each dish on your menu and detect the 14 EU allergens.
How It Works:
- 1You create a product: "Pasta Carbonara" with description "Fresh pasta with guanciale, egg, pecorino, and black pepper"
- 2AI automatically analyzes the name + description
- 3Detects: Gluten (pasta), Eggs, Dairy (pecorino)
- 4Displays visual icons on your digital menu
- 5You can manually correct if the AI missed something
AI Detection Accuracy
~95% Accuracy
Obvious allergens: pasta → gluten, cheese → dairy, shrimp → shellfish
~70% Accuracy
Hidden allergens: Worcestershire sauce → anchovies, pesto → nuts
That’s why you can always review and manually correct. The AI saves you 90% of the work, you check the rest.
Advantages of the Digital Menu for Allergens
Instant Update
You change an ingredient → Allergens update automatically
Multilingual
French tourist sees allergens in French automatically
Filters for Customers
Celiac customer filters "gluten-free" and sees only suitable dishes
Clear Visual Icons
Easier to read than text or numeric codes
Checklist: Does Your Restaurant Comply with the Regulations?
- Do you have the 14 allergens identified in EACH dish?
- Is the information visible without having to ask for it?
- Do you update allergens when you change recipes?
- Does your staff know how to answer allergen questions?
- Do you have the information in your customers' languages?
If you can't check all, you're at risk of a fine.
Conclusion
Allergen regulations are not optional - they are law. Fines can reach €600,000 and, more importantly, your customers' health is at stake.
With tools for automatic allergen detection like IAMenu, compliance is easier than ever. The AI does the heavy lifting, you verify, and sleep peacefully.
Automate Allergen Detection
IAMenu automatically detects the 14 EU allergens on your menu. 14 days free, no card required.
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