QR Menu Allergen Compliance: A Complete Guide for Restaurants
Allergen labelling is a legal requirement across the EU. Here's how to make sure your digital menu keeps you compliant — and keeps your guests safe.
Why Allergen Information on Your Menu is a Legal Requirement
EU Regulation 1169/2011 requires food businesses to declare the presence of 14 major allergens in every dish. This applies whether you print your menu or display it digitally. Failure to comply can result in fines — and more importantly, puts guests with allergies at serious risk.
The 14 Major Allergens You Must Declare
- Gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats)
- Crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster)
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Soybeans
- Milk (and dairy products)
- Nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia)
- Celery
- Mustard
- Sesame seeds
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites (above 10mg/kg)
- Lupin
- Molluscs (mussels, oysters, squid)
Why a Digital Menu Makes Allergen Management Easier
A printed menu is a snapshot in time. If you change a recipe and forget to reprint, your allergen information is wrong. A digital menu updates in real time — change an ingredient in the admin panel and the allergen info updates immediately for every guest who scans the QR code.
How doXmenu Handles Allergens
doXmenu includes a built-in allergen module. For every menu item, you can:
- Tag which of the 14 allergens are present
- Display allergen icons clearly visible on the item card
- Add a "may contain" note for cross-contamination risk
- Support dietary labels: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free
Guests can also filter the menu by allergen — so someone with a nut allergy sees only safe dishes immediately.
Best Practices for Allergen Compliance
- Keep a detailed ingredient list for every dish in your kitchen
- Update your digital menu immediately whenever a recipe changes
- Train staff to know which dishes contain which allergens
- Add a general allergen notice to your menu (e.g. "Our kitchen handles nuts and gluten")
- Never guess — if you're unsure, say "may contain"
Protecting your guests from allergen reactions is not just a legal obligation — it builds trust and loyalty. Try doXmenu free and set up your allergen information today.
