Allergen posters and signs

A good allergen sign does one job. It gets a customer with an allergy to speak up before they order, and tells them you have the information to help.

Why food businesses display allergen signs

People with a food allergy or intolerance often feel awkward asking. Some assume a dish is safe because it was safe last time. A clear sign takes that awkwardness away. It says: we expect you to ask, and we are ready.

A sign also helps your staff. When the customer starts the conversation, staff can check the allergen matrix instead of guessing, and the answer is the same whoever is on shift.

What a good sign says

The best signs are short, plain and easy to read from a few steps away. Most say four things:

1. An invitation to ask. For example: “Food allergy? Please ask us before you order.”
2. That written information exists. Tell customers you keep allergen information for every dish and drink.
3. Which allergens you track. Listing all 14 reminds customers what to mention.
4. An honest note on risk. If your kitchen handles allergens, say that you take care but cannot rule out traces.

Some things to avoid:

• Small print, light grey text or busy backgrounds that are hard to read.
• Promises you cannot keep, such as “allergen free” for a shared kitchen.
• A sign so old the information behind it is out of date.

Where to put it

• Where people order, such as the counter or the till.
• On or next to the menu board.
• On printed menus and table cards, as a short line.
• On your website and online ordering pages, if you have them.

Put it where customers look before they decide, not after they have paid. At a counter, eye level beside the menu works well. Use a size people can read from where they queue.

Make it match your allergen matrix

A sign is only as good as the information behind it. Before you put a sign up, make sure you have an up-to-date allergen matrix staff can reach during service. When you change a recipe or a supplier, update the matrix first.

You can build an allergen matrix for free on this site. It takes your dishes, asks you to check each one, and prints a clear A4 sheet.

A ready-made pack, made from your menu

We are building a pack that turns your matrix into a matching wall poster, counter sign and ingredient labels, with your business name on each. It is launching soon. Leave your email below and we will tell you once, when it is ready.

This page is general guidance, not legal advice. For official guidance, read theFood Standards Agency orFood Standards Scotland.