Oral information
Oral information alone isn’t enough: the information, or the way to obtain it, must be shown in writing.
Allergen rules for restaurants in France.
Restaurants serving food on site must give allergen information in writing. Either the information itself or how to get it must be shown in writing, legibly and visibly, so that guests can access it directly and freely.
- Legal basis
- Décret n° 2015-447 (Code de la consommation, articles R. 112-12 and following)
- Enforced by
- DGCCRF
- Written information
- Required
- Oral information
- No (written required)
What you need to do
- Inform guests about the 14 allergens used in each dish.
- Give the information in writing, legibly and visibly; or show in writing how guests can get it.
- Guests must be able to access the information directly and freely.
QR code menus
The sources we checked don’t mention QR codes. Because written, freely accessible information is required, keep a printed allergen sheet on the premises.
Calories
There is no general rule requiring calories on restaurant menus in France.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and local authorities may interpret them differently; check with your food authority. Last checked: October 2026.
With Menuvola
Written allergen information, kept in sync.
Menuvola doesn’t replace your food authority’s guidance for France, but it gives you the written, dish-by-dish information most rules expect, in every format.
- 14 allergens per dishIngredients, allergens and calories are required for every item; incomplete items stay in draft.
- Printed allergen sheetPrint an A4 or A3 allergen and calorie sheet from the same data for guests who can’t or don’t want to scan.
- QR menu with a noticeTable cards and the printed menu carry a notice that allergen information is available.
- Suggestions, not guessesAs you type ingredients, the panel suggests possible allergens (e.g. “butter” → milk); you confirm them.
- Four languagesMenus and printed documents in English, German, Russian and Turkish.
- kcal and kJA calorie calculator built on an ingredient database, shown per portion.
Questions you may have.
Can staff give allergen information orally in France?
Oral information alone isn’t enough: the information, or the way to obtain it, must be shown in writing.
Is a QR code menu enough in France?
The sources we checked don’t mention QR codes. Because written, freely accessible information is required, keep a printed allergen sheet on the premises.
Do restaurants in France have to show calories?
There is no general rule requiring calories on restaurant menus in France.
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.
