Allergen 5 of 14 · Fi
Fish: the anchovy in the sauce bottle
Most fish on a menu is obvious. The fish that gets missed is in a sauce: Worcestershire sauce, Caesar dressing, fish sauce, Thai curry paste.
Checked against the official guidance on 18 September 2026
What the law covers
Annex II lists “fish and products thereof”: every species of fish, and anything made from it.
Exempt from declaration (Annex II):
- Fish gelatine used as a carrier for vitamin or carotenoid preparations
- Fish gelatine or isinglass used as a fining agent in beer and wine
Where it hides in a UK kitchen
| Where | Why |
|---|---|
| Worcestershire sauce | Contains anchovies. Welsh rarebit, a Bloody Mary, many shepherd's pies and some burger sauces contain fish because of it. |
| Caesar dressing | Anchovy is the base of a real Caesar dressing. |
| Fish sauce | In Thai, Vietnamese and many fusion dishes, and in some Thai curry pastes. |
| Anchovies on pizza, in tapenade, salsa verde, puttanesca | Often chopped fine enough that nobody sees them. |
| Surimi (crab sticks) | Made from white fish. |
In the free matrix builder, typing any of these ticks fish automatically: Fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Caesar dressing, Taramasalata, Fish, Fish fingers, Surimi, Bloody Mary, Fish and chips, Caesar salad, Pad thai, Sushi, Kedgeree. These prompt a label check instead, because it depends on the recipe or the brand: Thai curry paste, Marie Rose sauce, Shepherd's pie, Welsh rarebit, Thai green curry, Paella, Lancashire hotpot, Prawn cocktail.
Cross-contact to think about
- Fryer oil shared with battered fish (chips, halloumi fries, onion rings).
- Grill plates and tongs used for fish then for meat.
Where your risk assessment finds a risk you cannot control, mark the dish “may contain” on the matrix. Don't use it as a blanket statement: when “may contain” is justified.
On a PPDS label
NOT ENOUGH
Worcestershire sauce
CLEAR
Worcestershire sauce (malt vinegar (barley), spirit vinegar, molasses, sugar, salt, anchovies (fish), tamarind, onions, garlic, spice)
The sauce's own ingredients come with it, including the barley in the malt vinegar.
Make a PPDS label with allergens emphasised automatically →
Mistakes we see on matrices
- The Bloody Mary on the bar menu with no fish.
- Shepherd's pie made with Worcestershire sauce and no fish tick.
- Chips from the fish fryer described as fish-free.
Fish: questions from kitchens
Does beer fined with isinglass contain fish?
For allergen labelling, no: isinglass used as a fining agent in beer and wine is exempt. Vegetarian and vegan customers may still ask about it.
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.
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 21 — labelling of allergens — legislation.gov.uk.
All sources opened and checked on 18 September 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.