Are allergy cards legally required in the UK?

The short answer:

No, allergy cards are not legally required for individuals in the UK. But UK food businesses are legally required to provide accurate allergen information for the food they sell. An allergy card is a tool that makes the conversation faster and reduces communication errors — it doesn’t replace the legal protections you already have.

That’s the simple version. The longer version is worth knowing, because the legal landscape changed significantly in 2021 and most people still don’t know exactly what restaurants have to tell them.

What the law requires of restaurants

In the UK, two main pieces of legislation cover food allergy information:

1. Food Information Regulations 2014

Restaurants and food businesses must:

• Provide information about the 14 major allergens if they’re present as ingredients in any food they sell
• Make that information available before purchase (so you can ask before ordering)
• Not provide misleading information about allergens
• Train staff to handle allergy enquiries appropriately

The 14 major allergens that must be flagged:

1. Celery
2. Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut)
3. Crustaceans (shellfish)
4. Eggs
5. Fish
6. Lupin
7. Milk
8. Molluscs
9. Mustard
10. Nuts (tree nuts)
11. Peanuts
12. Sesame seeds
13. Soybeans
14. Sulphur dioxide and sulphites (above 10 mg/kg)

For more detail, see the Food Standards Agency’s allergen guidance.

2. Natasha’s Law (2021)

Natasha’s Law requires food that is prepared and packed for direct sale (PPDS) on the same premises to carry a full ingredient list with allergens emphasised on the packaging.

This closed a loophole that contributed to the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2016. She suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction to sesame in a Pret a Manger baguette that didn’t legally need to list its ingredients on the wrapper — because it was made and packed in the same shop.

After Natasha’s Law:

• Pre-packed sandwiches, salads, cakes, sushi, etc. made and sold on the same premises must list every ingredient
• Allergens within those ingredients must be emphasised (typically in bold)
• Trace amounts and “may contain” warnings are still allowed but the main ingredient list is now mandatory

For pre-packed-on-premises food, this is a huge improvement. For food made to order (e.g. a chef preparing a meal on request), the 2014 regulations still apply — allergen information must be available but doesn’t have to be written on the dish.

What this means for you

You have the right to:

• Ask about allergens in any UK food business
• Be given accurate information (legally)
• See written allergen information on pre-packed-on-premises items
• Refuse to order if the information you’re given is unclear or contradictory

You do not have the right to:

• Require a restaurant to physically guarantee zero cross-contamination (some kitchens can; not all can; the law doesn’t compel this)
• Demand bespoke ingredient sourcing
• Sue successfully if you ignored clearly-labelled allergen information

Where allergy cards fit in

An allergy card doesn’t change any of this. What it does is make the conversation faster, clearer, and less error-prone.

The 2014 regulations and Natasha’s Law assume the diner asks for allergen information and the staff member provides it accurately. That model breaks down when:

• The restaurant is busy and a junior staff member gets the question
• Multiple allergens are involved and a verbal list gets partially misremembered
• The diner has niche allergies outside the 14 majors (e.g. legumes, alpha-gal, additives)
• Staff change shifts between ordering and the food being served
• There’s a language barrier (you’re a tourist, or the kitchen team’s English is limited)

A written allergy card eliminates the verbal-relay risk. The chef reads exactly what you wrote, the message doesn’t degrade, and any staff member can re-check by glancing at the card on the table.

That’s why we recommend allergy cards even though they’re not legally required. Particularly for severe allergies, travel, and kids in school.

What about restaurants that refuse?

A few rare cases:

• They genuinely can’t safely accommodate you — fair. A kitchen that knows its limits is safer than one that pretends.
• They don’t take allergies seriously — leave, and report it. The FSA Food Safety Reporting channel exists for exactly this.
• They claim “we don’t do allergens” — illegal. Every UK food business is required to provide allergen information for the food it sells.

If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction caused by a restaurant providing wrong information, you can also report to your local council’s Environmental Health team and consider consulting a solicitor.

Children and schools

Schools have additional duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for children with food allergies, and most have allergen registers and care plans. A printed allergy card for a child’s lunchbox, school bag, or with their EpiPen is good practice — but not legally required of the parent.

For travel and EU

The EU’s Food Information Regulation 1169/2011 mirrors UK law for the 14 major allergens. So inside the EU, you get largely the same protections — major allergens must be flagged, and pre-packed foods must list ingredients with allergens emphasised.

Outside the EU and UK, expectations vary. The US has the FDA’s Food Allergen Labeling Consumer Protection Act covering 9 major allergens. Many other countries are less regulated. This is exactly where a translated chef card becomes essential — see our travel-with-allergies country guide.

The practical takeaway

In the UK:

• Restaurants must tell you about the 14 major allergens. Use that right.
• Pre-packed-on-premises food must list ingredients. Read them.
• An allergy card isn’t legally required, but it dramatically reduces the chance of communication error — particularly for multi-allergen, severe, or international diners.
• Children’s schools have additional duties under the Equality Act, and a child’s allergy card is widely recommended even though not mandatory.

Allergy cards aren’t a legal substitute. They’re a practical safety tool that pairs well with the legal protections you already have. Create a free digital allergy card in minutes or order a printed chef card for everyday use.