The 14 EU allergens list, explained with examples
In short: EU and UK law (Annex II of Regulation 1169/2011) lists 14 allergens that must be emphasised in the ingredients list: cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites, lupin and molluscs. A few highly processed derivatives are exempt, and “may contain” warnings are not part of the list.
The European Union lists 14 allergens that must be declared and emphasised whenever they are used as an ingredient. The list is in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and has applied since December 2014. The UK uses the same list. It covers prepacked food, and allergen information must also be given for loose food and restaurant meals.
The list at a glance
| # | Allergen (legal wording, shortened) | Examples on labels |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cereals containing gluten: wheat (such as spelt and khorasan), rye, barley, oats | flour, semolina, couscous, bulgur, malt, seitan |
| 2 | Crustaceans | prawns, shrimp, crab, lobster, crayfish |
| 3 | Eggs | egg white, albumen, mayonnaise, meringue |
| 4 | Fish | anchovy in Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, surimi |
| 5 | Peanuts | groundnuts, peanut butter, arachis oil, satay |
| 6 | Soybeans | soya, tofu, edamame, miso, soy sauce, soya lecithin |
| 7 | Milk (including lactose) | butter, cream, cheese, whey, casein, ghee |
| 8 | Nuts: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia (Queensland) nuts | marzipan, praline, gianduja, nut oils |
| 9 | Celery | celeriac, celery salt, celery seed, stock cubes |
| 10 | Mustard | mustard seed, mustard flour, curry and spice mixes |
| 11 | Sesame seeds | tahini, halva, hummus, sesame oil |
| 12 | Sulphur dioxide and sulphites above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre (as total SO2) | E220–E228, dried fruit, wine |
| 13 | Lupin | lupin flour, lupini beans |
| 14 | Molluscs | mussels, squid, octopus, snails, oyster sauce |
"Products thereof" are included every time. A cheese sauce must flag milk, and a soya-based emulsifier must flag soya.
How they appear on the pack
The allergen must be named in the ingredients list and emphasised so it stands out, usually in bold. When the ingredient has a technical name, the label links it to the allergen, for example "whey powder (milk)", "emulsifier: lecithins (soya)", "spelt (wheat)". For cereals, the specific grain must be named: "barley malt extract", not just "gluten". Details on reading the whole label are in how to read allergen labels.
Some points that surprise people:
- Oats are on the list as a gluten-containing cereal, even though many people with coeliac disease can eat specially produced gluten-free oats. See hidden gluten.
- Lactose is mentioned in the milk entry, so lactose from milk is emphasised too.
- Sulphites are not a protein allergen. They are listed because they can trigger reactions, especially in some people with asthma, and only above the 10 mg/kg or mg/litre threshold.
- Celery, mustard and lupin are on the EU list but not on the US list. More in the overlooked allergens.
Legal exemptions
Annex II exempts a few highly processed ingredients because processing removes nearly all of the allergenic protein. Exempt ingredients do not have to be emphasised:
- Wheat-based glucose syrups (including dextrose) and maltodextrins, and barley-based glucose syrups
- Cereals, whey and nuts used to make distillates or ethyl alcohol for spirits
- Fish gelatine used as a carrier for vitamins or carotenoids, and fish gelatine or isinglass used to clear beer and wine
- Fully refined soybean oil and fat, and some soy-derived tocopherols (E306 and similar), phytosterols and plant stanol esters
- Lactitol (made from milk sugar)
If you react to very small amounts, ask your allergist whether these exemptions matter for you.
What the list does not cover
- Other foods can cause allergies too: kiwi, pea protein, buckwheat, pine nuts and coconut, for example. They are listed as normal ingredients, without emphasis.
- Cross-contact ("may contain") is voluntary and not part of Annex II. See what "may contain" means.
- Other countries use different lists. The US has nine major allergens (see US allergens). Canada, Australia and Japan have their own.
How IngrediLens helps
In IngrediLens you choose the allergens from the EU list (or the US list, or your own keywords) that matter to you. The app then highlights matching ingredients and their other names on the label, including "may contain" statements. It reads labels in six European languages, so a pack bought in Spain, Germany, France, Italy or Portugal is easier to check. Allergen emphasis on the pack is still the legal reference, so read it before you eat.
Ingredient list allergen checker
Paste an ingredient list and see which of your allergens and “may contain” warnings it mentions.
Open the free toolCheck labels with IngrediLens
Point your iPhone camera at an ingredient list and IngrediLens highlights the allergens you chose and “may contain” statements. Free to start, no account, and your data stays on your device.
Download on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
What are the 14 allergens in the EU?
Cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts (eight named tree nuts), celery, mustard, sesame, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre), lupin and molluscs.
Does the UK use the same 14 allergens?
Yes. The UK kept the same list after leaving the EU, and the Food Standards Agency uses the same 14 allergens in its guidance.
Are coconut, pine nuts or chestnuts on the EU list?
No. The EU nut category covers only almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios and macadamia (Queensland) nuts. Other nuts appear as ordinary ingredients without mandatory emphasis.
Why is glucose syrup from wheat not in bold?
Annex II exempts a few highly processed ingredients, such as wheat-based glucose syrups and maltodextrins, because processing removes the allergenic protein to a level that regulators found unlikely to cause reactions.
