The 9 major food allergens: a guide for restaurants
U.S. law recognizes nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. Sesame became the ninth on January 1, 2023, under the FASTER Act. Here is where each one tends to show up on a restaurant menu.
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Where the nine allergens hide in restaurant dishes
Milk: butter, cream sauces, cheese, ghee, whey in breads and batters, and butter used to finish grilled meat or vegetables.
Eggs: aioli and mayonnaise, batters and breading, egg wash on pastry, fresh pasta, meringue, and some dressings.
Fish: Caesar dressing, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, and stocks.
Crustacean shellfish: shrimp paste, seafood stocks and bisques, and some curry pastes.
Tree nuts: pesto made with nuts, almond flour, marzipan, praline, nut oils, and garnishes.
Peanuts: satay and peanut sauces, some curries and mole recipes, and peanut oil.
Wheat: soy sauce, breadcrumbs, roux-thickened sauces and soups, flour-dusted proteins, and beer batter.
Soybeans: soy sauce, miso, tofu, edamame, and soy lecithin.
Sesame: tahini, hummus, sesame oil, seeded buns, and spice blends such as za'atar and furikake.
Wheat, gluten, and celiac disease
Wheat is the major allergen. Guests with celiac disease must avoid gluten, which also comes from barley and rye, so malt, some beers, and barley-based soups matter to them even when a dish contains no wheat.
Packaged food rules and restaurant rules are different
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act requires major allergens to be declared on packaged food labels. It does not cover food placed in a wrapper or container after a customer orders it, which describes most restaurant food.
The 2022 FDA Food Code, a model code that states and localities choose whether to adopt, calls for written notification of major food allergens in unpackaged food, for example on menus, table tents, or other written materials. Adoption and timing vary, so check with your local health department.
Beyond the nine
Guests also ask about allergens outside the U.S. list, such as mustard, celery, lupin, and sulfites, which are regulated allergens in other countries. A menu that lets guests name their own restrictions handles these without a separate chart.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 9 major food allergens?
Milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
When was sesame added?
The FASTER Act, signed April 23, 2021, made sesame the ninth major food allergen, effective January 1, 2023.
Do restaurants have to label allergens on menus?
It depends on where you operate. Federal packaged-food labeling rules do not apply to made-to-order restaurant food, but the 2022 FDA Food Code calls for written allergen notification and some states and localities have adopted it or have their own rules.