Why check your allergy menu this month?

Allergy information can quickly become out of date. A chef changes a garnish, a supplier changes an ingredient, a special is added to the menu, or a delivery platform still shows an old description.

For restaurants, cafes and takeaways, June is a good time to do a quick allergy menu audit and make sure your written information, digital menu and staff answers all match.

What should you check?

The Food Standards Agency expects food businesses to provide clear allergy information and to handle allergens safely. For customers, that means the information they see on a menu should match what your staff say at the counter or table.

• Printed menus: check dishes that have changed recently, including sauces, toppings, desserts and drinks made with milk alternatives.
• QR code menus: make sure your live menu is current, not an old PDF or image.
• Delivery platforms: allergy information should be available before the customer orders and when the food is delivered.
• Staff knowledge: staff should know where to find the latest allergy matrix and should not guess from memory.

A simple 30 minute allergy audit

You do not need to review every dish at once. Start with your busiest items and your newest specials.

• Pick five popular dishes and two specials.
• Compare the recipe, supplier information, printed menu, QR menu and delivery listing.
• Check that the 14 UK regulated allergens are recorded clearly.
• Look for vague wording such as "allergy friendly" or "suitable for" where a clearer allergen answer is needed.
• Ask a front of house team member to show you where they would find the allergy information during service.

Why written allergy information matters

Recent UK allergy incidents and inquests have shown how dangerous poor communication can be. If a customer tells staff about an allergy, the process must be clear: listen, check the written information, repeat the request back, and ask the kitchen or manager if anything is unclear.

Internationally, menu allergy disclosure is also becoming more visible. In California, larger restaurant chains are preparing for rules that require major allergens to be shown on menus or in a digital format from July 2026. UK businesses already have their own rules, but the direction is clear: customers expect accurate written allergy information.

How Allergy Menu can help

Allergy Menu helps you keep your allergy information in one place. You can update dishes, ingredients and allergens from your dashboard, then share accurate information through your QR code menu, website menu and staff tools.

Keeping one live allergy matrix reduces the risk of different menus giving different answers. It also helps staff give customers consistent information when they need it most.

Want to see how it works? Sign up today and get one month free to try Allergy Menu in your business.

Written on 2026-06-25 by Juliet Moran

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