Allergens and Labels: Comply with EU Regulations with Automatic AI Detection
8 minutes
Allergens and Labels: Comply with EU Regulations with AI Automatic Detection
European regulations require the declaration of 14 regulated allergens on your restaurant menu. Fines for non-compliance can reach 600,000 EUR and may result in the closure of the establishment for up to 5 years. With iaMenu, detection is 100% automatic thanks to Super Chef, our AI specialized in gastronomy. In this section, you will learn how to manage allergens, marketing labels, and comply with Regulation EU 1169/2011 effortlessly.
What You Will Learn in This Section
- How Super Chef automatically detects the 14 EU allergens
- Review and validate the allergens detected by the AI
- Manually mark or unmark allergens
- Protect manual edits from the AI
- The 14 mandatory allergens with official icons
- Marketing labels to highlight your products
- EU regulations and how iaMenu protects you from fines
Step 1: Super Chef Automatically Detects Allergens
When you create or edit a product, Super Chef analyzes the name, description, ingredients, and even the category context to detect allergens with the precision of a professional chef.
When saving a product, the AI automatically activates in the background. You will see the detected allergens with an "AI" badge in the "Features" tab of the product modal.
Super Chef does not only analyze what is explicit. If your product is in the "Pizzas" category, the AI automatically infers that the dough contains gluten, even if you haven't indicated it in the ingredients. The same applies to "Battered" (gluten + egg) or "Soups" (celery and hidden sulfites).
On mobile, detection works the same way. Swipe to the allergens section to see the results.
The detection is invisible to you: it occurs in less than 2 seconds in the background when saving the product.
Tip
Super Chef uses deep gastronomic context with expert inference rules: sauces imply gluten + milk (béchamel, carbonara). Fried foods imply gluten + egg (battered, tempura). Curry implies hidden mustard. Hamburger buns imply sesame. Wine or vinegar imply sulfites. It works like a chef with 12 years of experience reviewing your menu.
Step 2: Review Detected Allergens
Once Super Chef analyzes your product, it is important to review the results. The AI achieves 95% accuracy, but certain dishes with unconventional recipes may require your expert eye.
Click on the product and open the "Features" tab. You will see two sections:
- Allergens detected by AI — marked with a blue "AI" badge and confidence score
- Manually marked allergens — without a badge, added by you
Each allergen displays its official icon, name translated into the active language of the dashboard, and the AI's confidence level.
Tap on the product and swipe to the allergens section. The icons show the same data as on desktop.
Importante
Always review the detected allergens. The AI is a tool for assistance, not a substitute for the chef's knowledge of their own recipes. Regulation EU 1169/2011 states that the final responsibility lies with the establishment.
Step 3: Manually Mark or Unmark Allergens
You can add allergens that the AI did not detect or unmark those that do not correspond to your specific recipe. The mandatory allergen list must reflect the reality of your kitchen, not just what the AI detects.
The 14 allergens regulated by the EU appear as interactive icons. Tap on any to activate or deactivate it:
- Highlighted icon with color: Allergen present in the product
- Gray icon: Allergen not present
- "AI" badge: Automatically detected by Super Chef
Tap on each allergen icon to mark or unmark it. The operation is identical to desktop.
Step 4: Protection of Manual Edits
When you manually edit an allergen, iaMenu marks that selection as "reviewed". This means that the AI will never overwrite your decision, even if you edit the product later.
If you manually mark that your "Pasta Carbonara" does not contain mustard (even though the AI suggested it), that decision remains protected. When editing the name or description, the AI re-analyzes but respects your manual selection.
This system works in a cascading manner:
- If you manually mark an allergen, it remains permanently protected
- If the AI detects a new one after editing the description, it adds it without touching the protected ones
- If you radically change the recipe, you can "reset" the protection and let the AI re-analyze everything
The protection works exactly the same on mobile. Once you manually review an allergen, it remains protected forever.
Tip
This system is critical for complying with allergen regulations in restaurants. If your chef knows that their "Cheesecake" does not contain tree nuts (even though the AI suggests it due to the type of base), mark the correction once and you will never have to repeat it.
Step 5: The 14 Mandatory EU Allergens
Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 requires the declaration of these 14 mandatory allergens on any restaurant menu. iaMenu detects them and displays all with official icons, automatically translated into the customer's language.
| No. | Allergen | Common Examples | Super Chef Detection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gluten | Wheat, barley, rye, pasta, bread | Automatic + category context |
| 2 | Crustaceans | Shrimp, prawns, crab | Automatic by ingredients |
| 3 | Eggs | Omelet, mayonnaise, battered | Automatic + inference for fried foods |
| 4 | Fish | Hake, salmon, anchovies, surimi | Automatic by name |
| 5 | Peanuts | Satay sauce, snacks, peanut oil | Automatic by ingredients |
| 6 | Soy | Soy sauce, tofu, edamame, lecithin | Automatic by ingredients |
| 7 | Dairy | Cheese, cream, butter, béchamel | Automatic + context for sauces |
| 8 | Tree nuts | Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts | Automatic + inference for desserts |
| 9 | Celery | Soups, broths, salads, vegetable broth | Automatic by typical recipes |
| 10 | Mustard | Sauces, dressings, curry, marinades | Automatic + composition |
| 11 | Sesame | Hamburger buns, hummus, tahini | Automatic + context for bakery |
| 12 | Sulfites | Wine, vinegar, dried fruit, reduction | Automatic by beverages/sauces |
| 13 | Lupin | Lupin flour, snacks, gluten-free bread | Automatic by ingredients |
| 14 | Mollusks | Mussels, octopus, squid, cuttlefish | Automatic by name |
In the allergen panel, you will see the 14 official icons. Those detected by the AI appear automatically highlighted with their name in the active language of the dashboard.
The 14 icons are displayed in a grid adapted to the mobile screen.
Pro Tip
The names of the allergens are automatically translated. If your dashboard is in French, you will see "Gluten", "Crustacés", "Oeufs"... And your German customers will see "Gluten", "Krebstiere", "Eier" on the public menu. All automatic thanks to iaMenu's translation system.
Step 6: Marketing Labels to Highlight Products
In addition to the mandatory allergens, you can add marketing labels to your products to make them stand out on the digital menu: "Vegan", "Gluten-Free", "Spicy", "New", "Chef's Recommendation", and more.
In the labels tab of the product modal, you will find:
- 11 predefined global labels: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Spicy, New, Popular, Organic, Lactose-Free, Homemade, Recommended, Seasonal
- Custom labels that you can create yourself
- Auto-translation: each label is automatically translated into the active languages of your menu
The labels appear as colorful badges in the customer view, helping to filter dishes and highlight the most attractive ones.
Swipe to the labels section in the product modal. Tap on each one to add it.
Tip
The labels are automatically translated using the same AI system that translates your menu. If you create a label "Trufa Negra" in Spanish, your French customers will see "Truffe Noire" automatically. Learn more about translations in the section Translate your menu into multiple languages.
Create Custom Labels
If the predefined labels do not meet your needs, you can create your own:
- Open the Label Manager from the settings icon in the tags selector
- Tap "New Label"
- Write the name in your current language (for example, "Trufa Negra")
- iaMenu automatically translates it into all active languages of your menu
If you create a label in a different language than the base (for example, you write "Black Truffle" while in the dashboard in English), the Smart Swap system translates it to Spanish as the base language and then generates translations into the other languages.
Importante
Custom labels are available in the Professional and Premium plans. The Starter plan can use the 11 global labels without limit.
Where Allergens and Labels Are Displayed
The allergens and labels of your products are automatically displayed in:
- The management dashboard — icons next to each product in the accordion
- The customer menu — public view when they scan the QR code
- The exported PDF menu — with official icons in the 10 professional templates
- The product detail view — complete listing when tapping on a dish
- The customer filters — your customers can filter by "Gluten-Free" or exclude specific allergens
Regulatory Compliance: Avoid Fines of up to 600,000 EUR
Regulation (EU) 1169/2011
Since December 2014, all hospitality establishments in the European Union are required to inform consumers about the 14 allergens present in their dishes. This obligation applies to restaurants, bars, cafes, food trucks, hotels, catering, dark kitchens, and any business serving unpackaged food.
The allergen regulation in restaurants does not distinguish between physical and digital menus: if you use a menu with a QR code, allergen information must be present in the same way as in a printed menu.
Royal Decree 126/2015 (Spain)
In Spain, RD 126/2015 transposes the European regulation and establishes a specific sanctioning regime. Fines for allergens in restaurants are classified into three levels:
| Type of Infraction | Fine Range | Real Example |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | 100 EUR — 1,000 EUR | Allergen not visible on the menu but available if the customer asks |
| Serious | 1,001 EUR — 10,000 EUR | Menu without any allergen information |
| Very Serious | 10,001 EUR — 600,000 EUR | False or incomplete information causing harm to the consumer |
In addition to monetary fines, very serious infractions may lead to temporary closure of the establishment for up to 5 years and prohibition from operating in the sector.
Regulations in Other EU Countries
The obligation to declare the 14 allergens applies throughout the European Union, although each country establishes its own sanctioning regime:
| Country | National Regulation | Maximum Fine | Particularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | RD 126/2015 | 600,000 EUR | AESAN Plan 2026-2030 intensifies inspections |
| France | Décret 2015-447 | 450,000 EUR | Mandatory even in street markets |
| Italy | D.Lgs 231/2017 | 40,000 EUR | Requires written allergen registration |
| Germany | LMIDV §3 | 50,000 EUR | Frequent inspections in chains |
| United Kingdom | Natasha's Law 2021 | Unlimited | After a fatal case, the strictest in Europe |
| Portugal | DL 26/2016 | 44,000 EUR | Lower penalties but regular inspections |
AESAN Plan 2026-2030
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has approved its new National Plan 2026-2030, which intensifies allergen inspections in hospitality as a health priority. This means:
- More inspections without prior notice
- Zero tolerance for establishments that do not declare allergens
- Special focus on digital menus and delivery platforms
- Mandatory training of staff in allergen management
iaMenu vs Manual Management: Risk Comparison
Let’s look at a real example of why automatic allergen detection is critical to avoiding fines:
Example: "Pasta Carbonara"
| Aspect | Manual Management | iaMenu Super Chef |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Chef lists ingredients one by one | AI analyzes name + ingredients + category context |
| Result | "pasta, bacon, egg" | GLUTEN (pasta), EGGS (egg), DAIRY (parmesan) |
| What is Forgotten | Gluten (dough), dairy (parmesan) | Nothing: complete contextual inference |
| Risk of Fine | 1,000 EUR — 10,000 EUR | Minimized to the maximum |
| Time per Product | 2-5 minutes | 2 seconds automatic |
| When Changing Recipe | Must update manually | Re-analyzes when editing the product |
| Languages | Only in the language the chef wrote | Translated into the 29 active languages |
Importante
72% of allergen infractions occur due to unintentional omission, not ignorance. The chef knows their ingredients but forgets to declare "hidden" allergens: the sulfites from wine in a reduction, the sesame from the hamburger bun, the milk from grated parmesan, the celery from commercial vegetable broth.
How iaMenu Automatically Protects You
- Immediate detection: when creating or editing a product, Super Chef analyzes in less than 2 seconds
- Gastronomic context: the AI infers hidden allergens by category and type of dish
- Updated digital menu: allergens are automatically displayed on your QR menu
- Multi-language: German customer sees "Gluten, Eier, Milch" — you comply with the regulations in their language
- PDF with official icons: when exporting your PDF menu, allergens appear with standard EU iconography
- Failure recovery: if the internet cuts out, pending products are automatically analyzed upon reconnection
- Protection of edits: your manual corrections are never overwritten
Intelligent Failure Recovery
If the internet connection cuts out while editing products, iaMenu does not lose the allergens pending analysis. When you reconnect, the system automatically detects the products with pending analysis and processes them in the background without manual intervention. You will never lose an analysis due to a connection cut.
Tips and Best Practices
Follow these recommendations to manage allergens and labels professionally:
- Write detailed ingredients in the description. The more detail you include, the better Super Chef works. Mention sauces, sides, and dressings.
- Always review the detected allergens. The AI achieves 95% accuracy, but you know your recipes better than anyone. EU Regulation states that the final responsibility lies with the establishment.
- Use marketing labels to highlight dishes. Labels like "Vegan", "Gluten-Free", or "Chef's Recommendation" help customers find what they are looking for quickly.
- Create custom labels for your restaurant. If the 11 predefined ones do not meet your needs, create your own. They are automatically translated into all active languages.
- Train your team on allergens. iaMenu automates detection, but your staff must know the allergens in each dish in case a customer asks directly.
- Update allergens when changing recipes. If you modify the ingredients of a dish, edit the product in iaMenu and Super Chef will automatically re-analyze the allergens.
Common Troubleshooting
Super Chef does not detect an allergen that should be there
The AI may not detect allergens in very specific ingredients or uncommon names. Add the detailed ingredients in the product description and save again. If the allergen is still not detected, mark it manually.
I marked an allergen manually but the AI removed it
This should not happen. When you manually mark an allergen, it remains protected as "reviewed" and the AI does not touch it. If it occurs, check that you saved correctly after the manual edit.
I do not see the allergen icons in the customer view
Verify that the product has at least one allergen assigned. The icons only appear when there are marked allergens. Also, check that your menu template displays the allergens section.
Custom labels are not translating
Custom labels are automatically translated when created. If a label does not have a translation, open it in the label manager and save it again. The Smart Swap system will generate the missing translations.
I want to reset the allergens and have the AI re-analyze them
Open the product, unmark all allergens manually, save, and edit the product again. When saving again, Super Chef will re-analyze the product from scratch without restrictions from previous edits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does iaMenu detect allergens?
Super Chef analyzes the name, description, ingredients, and category context to automatically detect the 14 EU allergens in less than 2 seconds.
Can I correct the allergens from the AI?
Yes. Mark or unmark any allergen manually. Your edit is protected, and the AI will never overwrite it.
What fines are there for not declaring allergens?
In Spain, from 100 EUR for minor infractions to 600,000 EUR for very serious infractions. Additionally, they can close your establishment for up to 5 years.
Are allergens translated?
Yes. The 14 allergens are automatically translated into the customer's language. A German customer will see the names in German without additional configuration.
What are marketing labels?
They are badges like Vegan, Gluten-Free, or Spicy that you can assign to your products. They are automatically translated. You can use the 11 predefined ones or create your own.
Related Tutorials
Continue setting up your digital menu with these guides:
- Create Products to add dishes with prices, images, and AI descriptions
- Customization to configure happy hour, availability, and multiple prices
- Menu Management to reorder, duplicate, and create multi-menus
- Compliance to understand the complete EU regulations on allergens and GDPR
- GASTON - Your AI Assistant to detect allergens with voice commands
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