Allergens in recipes: the 14 declarable allergens explained
Since 2014 European regulation (1169/2011) requires reporting 14 allergens in any establishment serving food. Bad allergen management can cost you fines, claims and, in the worst case, a medical emergency. Here's how to work with allergens without stress.
The 14 declarable allergens
Gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soy, dairy (incl. lactose), tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites, lupins and molluscs. Any dish containing one of them, even traces in a sauce, must declare it.
How to identify allergens in a recipe
Check every ingredient in the costing, including hidden ones: flour in a sauce (gluten), cream or butter (dairy), garnish with sesame, vinegar with sulphites, breadcrumbs. Specialised AI detects them automatically when analysing the recipe.
How to inform the customer
The practical setup: one spec per dish accessible to floor staff, plus a general sign in the venue. The menu can use icons or letters. Key point: any waiter must be able to check instantly what each dish contains.
Generate specs with allergens automatically
RecipeRewriter Pro analyses every recipe, detects the 14 allergens and shows them in the spec with clear icons. Editable if you add or remove ingredients. One source of truth for kitchen and floor.
Your recipe specs with allergens in 30 seconds
AI detects the 14 allergens in each recipe and presents them in a clear, editable and downloadable spec.
Try RecipeRewriter Pro for free →Frequently asked questions
Should I also declare traces?
Yes if there's real cross-contamination risk (same oil, same boards). If you work with tree nuts in the kitchen, declaring it is good practice even when the recipe doesn't contain them.
Is AI allergen detection 100% reliable?
It detects the ones present in declared ingredients. It's the cook's responsibility to validate the result and consider cross-contamination in their specific kitchen.
Can I customise the allergen list?
Yes. Specs are editable: you can tick or untick allergens manually.
What's the penalty for not declaring allergens?
In Spain penalties range from warning to fines exceeding €5,000 in serious or repeat cases.
Can I print specs for kitchen and floor?
Yes, in PDF and HTML. We recommend printing the full version for kitchen and an allergen summary for the floor.