Food allergies in the family – the 14 allergens and how to plan meals
Short answer
In the European Union, 14 allergens must always be emphasised in the list of ingredients: cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites, lupin and molluscs. With an allergy in the household, choose dishes everyone can eat, always read the label and follow your doctor’s advice.
When someone in the family has a food allergy, every meal needs more care. This guide sums up what European rules on labelling require and some practical rules for planning the menu. It does not replace your doctor’s advice.
The 14 allergens that must always be indicated
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, in Annex II, lists the substances that cause allergies or intolerances and must be emphasised in the list of ingredients:
- cereals containing gluten
- crustaceans
- eggs
- fish
- peanuts
- soybeans
- milk
- nuts
- celery
- mustard
- sesame seeds
- sulphur dioxide and sulphites
- lupin
- molluscs
Some entries have specific exceptions (for example certain refined derivatives): for the details, the text of the regulation is what counts.
Read the label every time
Product recipes change. Even a product you buy often should be checked again: in the list of ingredients, allergens are emphasised, for example in bold.
A menu that suits everyone
Cooking two different menus is tiring and increases the risk of mistakes. Where possible, choose dishes everyone can eat and prepare separately only what is needed. Write down each person’s allergy somewhere the whole family can see it.
Watch out for cross-contamination in the kitchen
Use clean chopping boards, utensils and pans, and prepare the dish for the person with the allergy first. Store risky foods in closed, labelled containers.
How to do it with Sunny Family
In Sunny Family, record allergies, intolerances and type of diet for each person: the dishes on the menu take them into account for the whole family. Health data is saved only with your explicit consent and can be deleted at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Can an app replace a doctor’s advice on an allergy?
No. Diagnosis, foods to avoid and what to do in case of a reaction are decided by the doctor or allergist. An app only helps organise meals in line with that advice.
Does the list of 14 allergens also apply in restaurants?
Yes, the EU regulation requires allergen information to be provided for non-prepacked food too, such as food served in restaurants and canteens.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, Annex II
- European Commission, “Allergies”
The guides give general information and do not replace advice from a doctor or a nutritionist.