How MenuForma Helps Restaurants Label Allergens — Covering 26 Allergens Across 8+ Global Standards

How MenuForma Helps Restaurants Label Allergens — Covering 26 Allergens Across 8+ Global Standards

Food allergies affect an estimated 250 million people worldwide. For restaurant operators, clearly communicating allergen information is not just a matter of good customer service — in many countries it is a legal requirement. MenuForma's allergen labeling feature makes it effortless to mark, display, and update allergen information on your digital menu, keeping your guests safe and your business compliant.

Why Allergen Labeling Matters

Every year, tens of thousands of people are hospitalized due to allergic reactions triggered by undisclosed food ingredients. Regulations across the EU, United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong now mandate that restaurants and food businesses clearly disclose the presence of major allergens. Failure to comply can result in significant fines, reputational damage, and — most importantly — serious harm to your guests.

A digital menu is the ideal place to surface allergen information: it is always up to date, instantly searchable, and accessible to every guest who scans your QR code.

The 26 Allergens MenuForma Supports

MenuForma covers 26 allergens drawn from the major regulatory frameworks around the world. Each allergen is displayed with a recognizable emoji and its name in the guest's chosen language.

Core Allergens (Globally Recognized)

Allergen Emoji Regulated By
Gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats) 🌾 EU, US, JP, SG, TW, KR, AU, HK
Crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster) 🦐 EU, US, JP, SG, TW, KR, AU, HK
Eggs 🥚 EU, US, JP, SG, TW, KR, AU, HK
Fish 🐟 EU, US, SG, TW, KR, AU, HK
Peanuts 🥜 EU, US, JP, SG, TW, KR, AU, HK
Soybeans 🫘 EU, US, SG, TW, KR, AU, HK
Milk / Dairy 🥛 EU, US, JP, SG, TW, KR, AU, HK
Tree Nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc.) 🌰 EU, US, JP, SG, TW, KR, AU, HK
Sesame 🌿 EU, US, TW, AU

EU-Specific Allergens (EU Regulation 1169/2011)

Allergen Emoji Regulated By
Celery 🥬 EU
Mustard 🌻 EU, AU
Sulphites / Sulphur Dioxide 🍷 EU, US, SG, TW, AU, HK
Lupin 🌸 EU, SG, KR, AU
Molluscs (squid, oysters, clams) 🦑 EU

Asia-Specific Allergens

Allergen Emoji Regulated By
Buckwheat 🍵 JP, KR
Peach 🍑 KR
Tomato 🍅 KR
Beef 🥩 KR
Chicken 🍗 KR
Pork 🐷 KR
Mango 🥭 TW

Additional Global Allergens

Allergen Emoji
Kiwi 🥝
Garlic 🧄
Onion 🧅
Alcohol 🍺
Latex (cross-reactive foods) ⚠️

Which Countries' Standards Does MenuForma Cover?

MenuForma's allergen system is designed to help restaurants operating in — or serving guests from — any of the following regulatory regions:

🇪🇺 European Union — EU Regulation 1169/2011

The EU mandates disclosure of 14 allergens on all food sold to consumers, including loose and non-prepacked food. This regulation applies across all 27 EU member states plus the UK (post-Brexit retained law). The 14 allergens are: cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphur dioxide/sulphites, lupin, and molluscs.

🇺🇸 United States — FALCPA & FASTER Act

The FDA recognizes 9 major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame (added in 2023 under the FASTER Act). Labeling is mandatory on all packaged foods.

🇯🇵 Japan — Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA)

Japan mandates labeling for 8 allergens (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, and walnut added in 2025) and recommends labeling for 20 additional items. The system is managed by Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency.

🇦🇺🇳🇿 Australia & New Zealand — FSANZ Food Standards Code

Australia and New Zealand require plain-English allergen labeling for 11 allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, sesame, fish, shellfish (crustaceans and molluscs), wheat, soy, lupin, and added sulphites. New PEAL (Plain English Allergen Labelling) rules took effect in February 2024.

🇨🇦 Canada — Health Canada Priority Allergens

Canada identifies 11 priority allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish (crustaceans and molluscs), wheat, soy, mustard, and sulphites. Labeling is required under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

🇰🇷 South Korea — Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)

South Korea mandates labeling for 22 allergens, including all the common global ones plus beef, chicken, pork, peach, tomato, and buckwheat. This is one of the most comprehensive allergen labeling systems in the world.

🇸🇬 Singapore — Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

Singapore requires labeling for 8 major allergens: milk, egg, fish, crustaceans, soybeans, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat. The SFA also recommends disclosing sulphites and lupin.

🇹🇼 Taiwan — Ministry of Health and Welfare

Taiwan mandates labeling for 11 allergens: shrimp, crab, mango, peanuts, milk, eggs, nuts, gluten-containing cereals, soybeans, sesame, and sulphites.

🇭🇰 Hong Kong — Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Hong Kong follows a voluntary but widely adopted guideline covering the major 8 global allergens, with strong industry compliance encouraged by the CFS.

How to Create a Menu with Allergen Labels in MenuForma — Step by Step

Step 1: Sign Up and Create Your Restaurant Profile

Go to menuforma.com and create a free account. Enter your restaurant name, location, and preferred language. This takes less than two minutes.

Step 2: Upload Your Existing Menu (Optional)

If you already have a menu in PDF, photo, or spreadsheet format, simply drag and drop it into the upload area. MenuForma's AI will automatically parse your menu items — and detect likely allergens for each dish based on its name and description. You can review and edit all AI-detected allergens before publishing.

Step 3: Add or Edit Menu Items Manually

Click "Add Item" to create a new dish, or click the edit icon on any existing item. In the item editor, you will see an "Allergens" section with all 26 allergens displayed as selectable tags. Simply click to toggle each allergen on or off for that dish.

Step 4: Review AI-Detected Allergens

After uploading a menu, MenuForma shows you a Review screen where every imported dish is listed alongside the allergens the AI detected. You can:

  • Confirm the AI's suggestions with one click
  • Add allergens the AI may have missed
  • Remove any incorrectly detected allergens

This step ensures accuracy before anything goes live.

Step 5: Publish Your Menu

Click "Publish" to generate your QR code and shareable menu link. Your allergen labels are now visible to all guests on the public menu page.

Step 6: Guest Experience — Multilingual Allergen Display

When a guest scans your QR code and views the menu, allergen tags appear beneath each dish description. If the guest switches the menu language (MenuForma supports 70+ languages), the allergen names automatically translate into their chosen language — so a guest reading in Japanese will see "卵" (egg) and "小麦" (wheat), while a guest reading in French will see "Œufs" and "Gluten".

Step 7: Keep Allergen Information Up to Date

Whenever you change a recipe or add a new dish, simply edit the item in your MenuForma dashboard and update the allergen tags. Changes appear on your live menu instantly — no reprinting, no delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does MenuForma's AI always get allergen detection right? The AI is highly accurate for common dishes but is not infallible. We always recommend reviewing AI-detected allergens before publishing and consulting with your kitchen team for dishes with complex or unusual ingredients.

Can I display allergen information in multiple languages at the same time? Yes. MenuForma supports 70+ languages. Allergen names are translated automatically when a guest switches the menu language.

Is allergen labeling available on the free plan? Yes. Allergen labeling is available on all MenuForma plans, including the free tier.

What if my country is not listed above? MenuForma's 26-allergen system covers the most common allergens recognized globally. Even if your country has its own specific list, you can manually select the relevant allergens for each dish. We are continuously expanding our regulatory coverage.

Start Labeling Allergens Today

Protecting your guests from allergic reactions is one of the most important things a restaurant can do. With MenuForma, adding allergen information to your digital menu takes just minutes — and the AI does most of the work for you.

Create your free allergen-labeled menu now →

MenuForma supports allergen standards from the EU, United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult local regulations and a qualified food safety professional for compliance guidance.

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