EU food law (specifically Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on consumer information) requires consumers to be provided with information on allergenic substances and products used in the production of food. This information obligation applies to 14 food allergens that are the most common cause of allergic reactions in consumers:
1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat (e.g. spelt and khorasan), rye, barley, oats or their hybrid varieties and products thereof, except:
(a) wheat-based glucose syrups, including dextrose (1);
(b) wheat-based maltodextrins (1);
© glucose syrups based on barley;
(d) cereals used in the production of alcoholic distillates, including ethanol of agricultural origin.
2. Crustaceans and products thereof
3. Eggs and products thereof
4. Fish and products thereof, except:
(a) fish gelatine used as a carrier for vitamin or carotenoid preparations;
(b) fish gelatine or vyzin used as a clarifying agent in beer and wine.
5. Groundnut kernels (peanuts) and products thereof
6. Soya beans and products thereof, except:
(a) fully refined soya bean oil and fat (1);
(b) natural mixed tocopherols (E306), natural d‑alpha-tocopherol, natural d‑alpha-tocopherol acetate, natural d‑alpha-tocopherol succinate from soybean;
© phytosterols and phytosterol esters derived from soybean vegetable oils;
(d) plant stanol ester produced from sterols from soybean vegetable oil
7. Milk and milk products (including lactose), except:
(a) whey used for the production of alcoholic distillates, including ethanol of agricultural origin;
(b) lactitol
8. Nuts, namely: almonds (Amygdalus communis L.), hazelnuts (Corylus avellana), walnuts (Juglans regia), cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale), pecans (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.) Koch), Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa), pistachios (Pistacia vera), macadamia (Macadamia ternifolia) and products thereof, excluding nuts used for the production of spirits, including ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin
9. Celery and products thereof
10. Mustard and products thereof
11. Sesame seeds and products thereof
12. Sulphur dioxide and sulphites in concentrations greater than 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l, expressed as total SO2, to be calculated for products intended for direct consumption or for consumption after reconstitution according to the manufacturer’s instructions
13. Lupins and lupin products
14. Molluscs and products thereof
(1) And products made from them, provided that the processing they have undergone does not increase the level of allergenicity established by the Authority for the basic product concerned.
The full text of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council is available here.