The legal list
The 14 allergens UK food businesses must declare
Fixed by Annex II of the food information regulation, the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The FSA lists them alphabetically, as below; each links to where it hides in a kitchen.
Checked against the official guidance on 18 September 2026
| Allergen | What the law covers | Often missed in |
|---|---|---|
| CeCelery | Celery stalks, leaves, seeds and celeriac | stock cubes, stock pots and bouillon · gravy and jus · celery salt |
| GlCereals containing gluten | Wheat (such as spelt and khorasan), rye, barley, oats | soy sauce · malt vinegar · beer and beer batter |
| CrCrustaceans | Prawns, crab, lobster, crayfish, langoustine | thai curry pastes · prawn crackers · seafood sauces and xo sauce |
| EgEggs | Eggs from any bird | egg wash · mayonnaise and its family · fresh pasta and egg noodles |
| FiFish | All fish, including anchovy and fish sauce | worcestershire sauce · caesar dressing · fish sauce |
| LuLupin | Lupin seeds and flour | gluten-free bread and pastries · some pasta and meat-free products |
| MiMilk | Milk and milk products, including lactose | butter to finish · whey and milk powder · ghee and paneer |
| MoMolluscs | Mussels, oysters, squid, octopus, scallops, whelks | oyster sauce · calamari and squid · paella and seafood mixes |
| MuMustard | Mustard seeds, powder, leaves and prepared mustard | mayonnaise and salad cream · vinaigrettes and house dressings · cheese sauce and rarebit |
| PePeanuts | Peanuts (groundnuts) and peanut oil or butter | satay and peanut sauces · pad thai and south-east asian dishes · groundnut oil |
| SeSesame seeds | Sesame seeds, tahini, sesame oil | hummus and tahini sauces · burger buns and bagels · sesame oil |
| SoSoybeans | Soya beans, tofu, soy sauce, edamame, soya lecithin | soy sauce, teriyaki, hoisin, miso · bread · chocolate |
| SuSulphur dioxide and sulphites | Above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre, as SO₂ | wine, prosecco, cider, perry · dried fruit · british sausages and some burgers |
| TnNuts (tree nuts) | Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamias | marzipan, frangipane, bakewell · praline, nougat, gianduja, chocolate spreads · korma and some tikka masala sauces |
What is not on the list
Only the 14 must be declared. Garlic, onion, tomato, peas, chilli, kiwi and most fruit are not allergens in law, and neither are some foods people think of as nuts:
- Coconut, pine nuts, chestnuts and nutmeg are not among the eight tree nuts.
- Peanuts are not tree nuts: they are a legume with their own column.
- Rice, maize, buckwheat and quinoa are not cereals containing gluten.
A customer may still ask about them. The honest answer comes from your recipe; what the law requires you to hold and give is the 14.
Two pairs people mix up
- Crustaceans and molluscs are separate allergens. Prawns, crab and lobster are crustaceans; mussels, squid, scallops and the oysters in oyster sauce are molluscs.
- Peanuts and tree nuts are separate too, and so is lupin, another legume found in some gluten-free flours.
Thresholds and exemptions
Only one allergen has a threshold: sulphur dioxide and sulphites, declared above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre. A few highly processed derivatives are exempt, such as fully refined soybean oil, wheat-based glucose syrups and the cereals used to make spirits; each allergen page lists its exemptions.
Questions about the 14 allergens
Why are there 14 allergens in the UK?
The list comes from Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers, kept in UK law after Brexit. It names the foods and ingredients responsible for most serious allergic reactions in Europe. Only these 14 have to be declared as allergens.
Is garlic, tomato or coconut one of the 14 allergens?
No. Garlic, tomato, coconut, pine nuts, chestnuts, peas, kiwi and chilli are not on the list. People can be allergic to them, and you can tell them what a dish contains, but you are not required to declare them as allergens.
What are the “15 allergens”?
There is no fifteenth allergen in UK law. Lists of “15” found online come from other countries' rules or split a group such as tree nuts in two. For a UK business, the legal list is the 14 on this page.
Do I need to name the specific nut or cereal?
On a label, yes: the law names the cereals (wheat, rye, barley, oats) and the eight tree nuts, and the FSA's guidance is to name them rather than write “gluten” or “nuts”. On a matrix, one column per allergen is the usual layout; you can add the detail in the dish name or a note.
Official sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II — substances or products causing allergies or intolerances — legislation.gov.uk (version applying in Great Britain).
- Allergen guidance for food businesses — Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK), updated 17 July 2026.
- Food allergen labelling and information requirements: technical guidance — Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK), published 23 August 2023, revised March 2025.
All sources opened and checked on 18 September 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.