Allergen Labelling Under EU Regulation 1169/2011
Allergen declaration is one of the most critical aspects of food labelling in the European Union. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (Food Information to Consumers, or FIC) mandates that all food products clearly identify any of the 14 major allergens listed in Annex II of the regulation.
Note: This article provides a general overview and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult the official EU legislation and your regulatory advisors for compliance matters.
The 14 EU-Regulated Allergens
| # | Allergen | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cereals containing gluten | Wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt |
| 2 | Crustaceans | Crab, lobster, shrimp |
| 3 | Eggs | All egg products |
| 4 | Fish | All fish species |
| 5 | Peanuts | All peanut products |
| 6 | Soybeans | Soy lecithin, soy protein |
| 7 | Milk | Lactose, casein, whey |
| 8 | Tree nuts | Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, macadamia |
| 9 | Celery | Including celeriac |
| 10 | Mustard | Seeds, powder, oil |
| 11 | Sesame seeds | Seeds, paste (tahini) |
| 12 | Sulphur dioxide / sulphites | If >10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre |
| 13 | Lupin | Flour, seeds |
| 14 | Molluscs | Mussels, oysters, squid |
How Must Allergens Be Declared?
- Pre-packaged foods: Allergens must appear in the ingredients list, clearly distinguished from other ingredients (e.g., in bold, CAPITALS, or a different colour)
- Non-pre-packaged foods: Allergen information must still be provided to consumers (method varies by member state)
- “May contain” statements: These are voluntary and used for cross-contamination warnings. They are not a substitute for proper allergen management
Relevance for Dried Fruit Products
While most single-ingredient dried fruit products are naturally free from the 14 allergens, cross-contamination risks exist when products are processed in facilities that also handle tree nuts, sesame, or products containing sulphites (commonly used in dried apricots and raisins).
Importers must obtain allergen declarations from their suppliers and verify that production environments are appropriately managed to prevent cross-contact.
Online Sales Requirements
For food sold online, Article 14 of Regulation 1169/2011 requires that all mandatory food information (including allergen declarations) must be available before the purchase is concluded. This means your website product pages must include clear allergen information.
View our product allergen information: Products.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 – Food Information to Consumers. eur-lex.europa.eu
- European Commission – Food Allergens. food.ec.europa.eu
- BfR (2024). Allergenkennzeichnung bei Lebensmitteln. bfr.bund.de