The allergen matrix, explained.
An allergen matrix is a table of every dish on your menu against the 14 allergens. Staff use it to answer guests, inspectors ask to see it, and in some countries guests must be able to read it too.
An example
| Dish | Gluten | Crustaceans | Eggs | Fish | Peanuts | Soy | Milk | Nuts | Celery | Mustard | Sesame | Sulphites | Lupin | Molluscs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margherita Pizza | ● | – | – | – | – | – | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Classic Burger | ● | – | ● | – | – | – | ● | – | – | ● | ● | – | – | – |
| Caesar Salad | ● | – | ● | ● | – | – | ● | – | – | ● | – | – | – | – |
| Tiramisu | ● | – | ● | – | – | – | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Homemade Lemonade | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Example only. Real recipes differ: check the ingredients of every product you buy, including sauces, dressings and bread.
Five steps.
Whether you use a spreadsheet or software, the work is the same: know exactly what goes into each dish.
- List every dish and drinkInclude sides, sauces, dressings and specials.
- Write down the ingredientsUse the labels of the products you buy; composite ingredients like pesto or mayonnaise count.
- Mark the 14 allergensName the cereal (wheat, rye…) and the nut (almond, hazelnut…) where you can.
- Make it availableOn the menu, as a printed sheet or folder, with a notice telling guests where to find it.
- Update it with every changeNew supplier, new recipe, new special: update the matrix the same day.
Your matrix, built from your menu.
- No separate spreadsheetEnter ingredients and allergens once per dish; the allergen table and the printed allergen sheet are generated from the menu itself.
- Nothing goes live incompleteItems without ingredients, allergens or calories stay in draft until they’re complete.
- Print it any timeA4 or A3, in English, German, Russian or Turkish, always matching the QR menu.
Questions you may have.
Is an allergen matrix a legal requirement?
Not by that name. What the law requires is accurate information on the 14 allergens for every dish. Food authorities and industry bodies, such as the FSA in the UK and KHN in the Netherlands, suggest a matrix as a practical way to keep that record for staff and inspectors.
Should guests see the matrix?
In some countries written information must be available to guests (for example France and Ireland); in others the matrix can stay behind the counter as the record staff answer from. A clear printed allergen sheet works for both.
How often should I update it?
Every time a recipe, an ingredient or a supplier changes. A matrix that lives in a separate spreadsheet tends to drift from the real menu, which is why Menuvola builds it from the menu itself.
Try Menuvola free for 14 days.
Set up your menu, print your allergen sheet and see how it works for your business. No card needed.
