Glossary
Allergen menu
An allergen menu is a reference that maps each dish to the common allergens it contains so guests and staff can order safely.
What an allergen menu covers
An allergen menu documents which items contain priority allergens — milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame, and others depending on jurisdiction. It may be a separate guide, a column on the main menu, or icons beside each dish.
Accuracy is non-negotiable, and it must be updated whenever a dish or supplier changes, since an out-of-date allergen menu is worse than none at all.
- Cover the priority allergens for your region
- Use clear icons or a column tied to each dish
- Re-verify whenever a dish or supplier changes
Example
A cafe tags each item with icons for gluten, dairy, nuts, and shellfish, and keeps a printed matrix at the host stand. When a guest asks, staff confirm against the matrix rather than from memory.
See also
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