Yes, there is an allergens list made up of the 14 Major Food Allergens set out by The Food Standards Agency. As per The Food Information Regulation 1169/2011 which came into force in December 2014, food businesses are legally required to tell customers which of these 14 allergens are present in their products or menu items via either a label or provided information (such as the menu itself).

Anyone found guilty of endangering a customer’s life by not doing so will face a hefty fine.

This allergen list has been compiled of the 14 foods identified by food law as the most potent and prevalent allergens for sufferers in the UK.

What are the 14 Allergens?

The 14 Major Food Allergens are…

• Celery
• Cereals containing Gluten
• Crustaceans
• Eggs
• Fish
• Lupin
• Milk
• Molluscs
• Mustard
• Nuts (Tree Nuts)
• Peanuts
• Sesame
• Soya
• Sulphites (Sulphur Dioxide)

You can always find a list of these 14 allergens and more information about them here on Erudus.

What foods are Allergens commonly found in?

These are the food products you can find the 14 Major Food Allergens in…

Foods Celery can be found in

Celery can be eaten or cooked fresh (as part of a salad for instance) but is also found in the form of celery salt, which finds its way into many meat products, soups and stock cubes.

Foods Cereals containing Gluten can be found in

Cereals containing Gluten can be found in many foods, particularly those containing wheat flour, some varieties of baking powder, batter for fish, chicken and other foods, pancake batter, breadcrumbs, cakes and other baked goods, couscous, meat products, pasta (fresh and dried), pastry and pastries, sauces, and soups.

Foods Crustaceans can be found in

Crustaceans include crabs, lobster, prawns and scampi. Shrimp are also crustaceans, and paste made from shrimp is an allergen in this category that is commonly used in the cuisine of Thailand and South-East Asia.

Foods Eggs can be found in

Eggs can be found in many places including cakes and brownies, meat products (where it might be used as a binder), mayonnaise and other sauces, mousse, pasta – specifically fresh pasta, quiche, and pastries. Some food products, such as scones and pies, are glazed with eggs during cooking.

Foods Fish can be found in

Fish can be found in fish fingers, fish cakes, pasta bakes and stews. Fish is also found in many sauces (barbecue and Worcestershire sauce for example), relishes, salad dressings, bouillon, stock cubes and pizza.

Foods Lupin can be found in

Lupin is a flower and also a bean, but it is also sometimes found in flour. which then might be used in bread, pastries and pasta.

Foods Milk can be found in

Milk is found in dairy products. These include cheese, cream, butter, milk powders and yoghurt. In some recipes milk is used as a glaze, and it can commonly be found in soups and sauces that come in powdered form.

Foods Molluscs can be found in

Molluscs include mussels, snails, whelks and squid. As a hidden ingredient they can also be found in oyster sauce, which is used in fish stews.

Foods Mustard can be found in

Mustard in sauce or powder form, can be found in bread, curry, sauces, salad dressings and marinades, meat products and soups.

Foods Nuts (Tree Nuts) can be found in

Tree nuts are nuts that are grown on trees and include cashew nuts, almonds and hazelnuts. They are often found in desserts, sauces and confectionery.

Foods Peanuts can be found in

Peanuts are used as an ingredient in many different recipes. They can be found in biscuits, cakes and other baked goods, chocolate, curries, desserts, sauces (satay, for example), groundnut oil and peanut flour.

Foods Sesame can be found in

Sesame seeds are often found in bread – predominantly sprinkled on buns, rolls and baguettes, as well as on breadsticks and crackers. Sesame is also found in food products like hummus and tahini, and sesame oil is a common oil used for frying and roasting.

Foods Soya can be found in

Soya can be found in the form of bean curd, as well as edamame beans, miso pates, textured soya protein and tofu. Soya flour is also used in cooking, and soya is a staple ingredient in oriental cuisine. It’s found in desserts, some varieties of ice cream, meat products, sauces (soy sauce and barbecue sauce being examples) and meat substitute products.

Foods Sulphites can be found in

Sulphites is most commonly associated with wine and beer. It is an ingredient often used in dried fruits, some meat products, soft drinks, and prepared vegetables. People who suffer from asthma have a higher risk of developing an allergy to sulphites.

Are the 14 Allergens ever found anywhere else?

Yes, there are many unexpected places you might find the 14 Major Food Allergens – both in food products and non-food products. You can find out which products might contain ingredients from the allergens list here.

Erudus and the 14 Allergens

Erudus uses accurate data direct from a product’s Manufacturer to give you everything you need to know about that product at the touch of a button. This includes all Allergen and Nutritional data (so you can see which, if any, of the 14 Allergens a product contains, as well as if it’s suitable for Vegans, Vegetarians and those on a Halal diet). Check out our Allergen & Nutritional Data Search to find out more.