Allergens on the digital menu: duty, upkeep and limits
The duty to label allergens applies to a digital menu exactly as it does on paper — the EU Food Information Regulation (FIC, 1169/2011) makes no distinction by medium. Digitally, however, upkeep becomes easier: allergens are entered once per dish and then appear on every table, consistently and without a reprint when a recipe changes. Responsibility for which allergens a dish contains stays entirely with the business.
What is required
Since 2014 the EU Food Information Regulation has required that guests be informed about the 14 main allergens for non-prepacked food — which includes every restaurant dish — from gluten through milk to tree nuts. How that information is provided is up to the business: on the menu, in a folder, on request with a documented basis. A digital menu is a permitted and practical place for it.
Why digital works better day to day
- Entered once, identical everywhere: the allergen sits with the dish and appears the same on every table — no footnote forgotten in the third print run.
- Recipe change without a reprint: if the kitchen switches the sauce, the allergen is changed on the dish and is current immediately.
- Extra labels such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or spicy help guests choose before they have to ask.
- Service staff are relieved: the menu answers the most frequent questions, and the rare, important conversations remain.
What the system does not take off your hands
- The assignment itself: only the kitchen knows which allergens a dish contains. An AI import can carry over entries from the old menu — a human has to check them.
- Cross-contamination: whether the fryer is shared with gluten-free items is in no data field. Such notes need to be worded and made known to the team.
- Being current: a substitute delivery with a different recipe means adjusting the menu. Digitally that is a minute, but a minute somebody has to spend.
Is a digital menu enough for allergen labelling?
Yes, provided the entries are complete and current. The regulation requires the information to be available before the purchase — whether on paper or on the guest’s phone screen does not matter. For guests without a smartphone the information should still be available another way, for instance through staff with a documented basis.
How are allergens maintained in MenuMonkeys?
Per dish, directly on the entry: allergens and labels such as vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free are set once and appear on the menu at every table. If a recipe changes, the entry is changed — no reprint needed.
Who is liable for incorrect allergen information?
The business. The ordering system displays what the business enters — factual correctness lies with the kitchen and management, regardless of whether the menu is printed or digital.