How to Show Allergen and Dietary Information Clearly on a Digital Menu

For a guest with a food allergy, the menu is not just a list of dishes; it is the first safety check. A digital menu can make allergen information easier to find than a printed card, but only if it is clear, consistent and current. Vague or outdated notes can do more harm than no notes at all.

Know which rules apply to you

Allergen rules differ from country to country. In the European Union, for example, food businesses must provide information on 14 major allergens, including gluten, milk, eggs, nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish. Other countries have their own lists and requirements. This article gives general guidance only, so check with your local food authority which rules apply to your restaurant and how the information must be shown.

Use consistent labels

Pick one set of names for allergens and dietary labels and use them everywhere. If one dish says “contains dairy” and another says “milk”, guests have to wonder whether these mean the same thing. The same goes for labels such as vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free: define what each one means in your kitchen and apply it strictly.

• Use the official allergen names for your country.
• Write labels in the same order and format on every dish.
• Only use “free from” labels if you can truly guarantee them, including cross-contact.
• Add a general note asking guests to tell staff about allergies before ordering.

Combine icons with text

Small icons help guests scan the menu quickly, but not everyone knows what each icon means, and some are hard to tell apart on a small screen. Always pair an icon with a word, or add a short line to the dish description, such as “Contains: milk, eggs, wheat.” Short notes like this are easy to read on a phone and easy for staff to check. In QR Menu Manager, product descriptions and options are regular WooCommerce product data, so you can keep these notes right next to the dish itself.

Keep information up to date

Recipes change, suppliers change, and a new brand of bread can bring a new allergen. Make updating the menu part of every recipe change.

1. Keep a simple allergen sheet for each dish in the kitchen.
2. When a recipe or supplier changes, update the sheet first.
3. Update the digital menu the same day.
4. Review the whole menu every few months, even if nothing seems to have changed.

Train your staff

Even the best menu cannot answer every question. Staff should know where the allergen information is kept, who to ask in the kitchen, and that they must never guess. If they are not sure, they should say so and find out. A clear menu, a reliable allergen sheet and a confident team together give guests with allergies a reason to trust you and come back.