Allergen Matrix Template: Free UK 14 Allergens

Allergen matrix for the 14 allergens (free UK template)

An allergen matrix lists every dish you sell against the 14 allergens that UK law requires you to declare. Staff use it to answer customers accurately, and you use it to prove your information is up to date.

Print the free template below, or keep it in LogBooks Hub, where each change is dated and signed so you can show when a recipe was last checked.

How often: Check it every day as part of your opening checks, and update it every time you add a dish, change a recipe or receive a different ingredient from a supplier.

Printable A4, no sign-up or email needed.

What to record

Every dish and drink you sell, including sauces, dressings and garnishes

Which of the 14 allergens each one contains

Where the information came from: your recipe and the ingredient labels

The date it was last checked

Why it changed: new dish, recipe change or a different product from a supplier

Who checked it

A filled-in example

Sample entries only, to show the level of detail an inspector expects.

Example Allergen matrix entries
Dish	Allergens present	Recipe and labels checked	Last reviewed	By
Fish and chips	Fish; cereals containing gluten (wheat in batter)	Yes	01/10/26	JS
Caesar salad	Eggs; milk; fish (anchovy); cereals containing gluten (croutons); mustard	Yes	01/10/26	JS
Satay chicken skewers	Peanuts; soybeans; cereals containing gluten (soy sauce)	Yes, new soy sauce brand 05/10	05/10/26	AK
Chips (dedicated fryer)	None of the 14	Yes	01/10/26	JS

Why this matters

It is a legal requirement to give accurate information about the allergenic ingredients in the food and drink you serve. For loose food, such as meals in a restaurant, you can give it in writing, for example an allergen matrix, a menu or a chalkboard, or verbally, as long as a sign tells customers where to find it. Food that is prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) must be labelled with the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with allergens emphasised (SFBB).

The 14 allergens

Allergen	Examples
Celery
Cereals containing gluten	Wheat, rye, barley, oats
Crustaceans	Prawns, crabs, lobsters
Eggs
Fish
Lupin
Milk
Molluscs	Mussels, oysters
Mustard
Peanuts
Sesame
Soybeans
Sulphur dioxide and sulphites	Above 10 parts per million
Tree nuts	Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts

Keeping it accurate

Build it from your recipes and the ingredient labels, not from memory.
Check deliveries: a different brand or substitute can contain different allergens.
Update the matrix, and any PPDS labels, before a changed dish goes on sale.
Only use "may contain" statements after a full risk assessment shows a real risk of cross-contamination.
If you sell "free from" food, you must make sure the allergen cannot get into it.

If you find the matrix is wrong, stop serving the affected dish until the information is corrected, tell staff, and record what changed. The Food Standards Agency also publishes a free allergen matrix template. Our printable version adds a review date and sign-off.

Common mistakes

Forgetting sauces, dressings, garnishes and drinks

Not updating the matrix when a supplier sends a different brand

Missing hidden sources, such as soy sauce that contains wheat, because nobody read the label

No date on the matrix, so nobody knows if it is current

Staff not knowing where the matrix is kept

The easier way: keep it on your phone

In LogBooks Hub this log reminds staff when it is due, stamps each entry with who and when, can hold a photo as evidence, and goes into your audit pack PDF in one click. It is one of 90+ ready-made logbooks, from £30 a month. Works on any device in the browser, or grab the iPhone or Android app.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 14 allergens in the UK?

Celery, cereals containing gluten (such as wheat, rye, barley and oats), crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (above ten parts per million), and tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts). These are the allergens you must be able to declare.

Is an allergen matrix a legal requirement?

The matrix itself is not, but giving accurate allergen information is. For loose food you can provide it in writing, such as a matrix, menu or chalkboard, or verbally, provided a sign tells customers where to get it. Even if you give information verbally, staff need an accurate written source to check. A matrix is the most common way to do that.

How often should I update my allergen matrix?

Every time something changes: a new dish, a recipe change, or a different ingredient or brand from a supplier. The SFBB opening checks include confirming allergen information is accurate for everything on sale that day. Date each review so you, your staff and an inspector can see the information is current.

When can I use "may contain" on my menu?

The Food Standards Agency says precautionary allergen labelling, such as "may contain", should only be used if a full risk assessment shows a real risk of cross-contamination. It should not be used as a blanket disclaimer. Your local authority can help you complete a risk assessment if you are unsure.