Allergen labelling on a digital menu (Germany)

The rule: information is required for loose food too

The EU Food Information Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, “LMIV” in German) requires allergen information for non-pre-packed food as well. Germany sets out the procedure in its national implementing ordinance (LMIDV). The allergen list is the same across the EU; implementation details differ by country. This page covers Germany only.

The information can be given in writing (menu, list, electronic information) or, under conditions, orally. If it is given orally, a written record must be on hand in the business, and a notice visible to guests must say that staff can provide it. Staff are expected to be informed about allergens.

The 14 allergens and their German names

If you use letter codes or symbols, a legend explaining them belongs where guests see it immediately.

What matters on a digital menu

Showing allergen information on a menu opened by QR code is common. For it to stand in for written information, guests must be able to reach it directly and easily; the legal assessment is made case by case. Practical tips:

• Put a clear note next to the QR code, such as “Scan for allergens and ingredients”.
• Show the allergens on the dish itself, with no account or app needed.
• For guests without a smartphone or internet access, keep a current printed allergen list at the till or with staff. This is a recommendation; this page does not present it as a legal requirement.
• When a recipe changes, update the allergen information the same day.

“Allergen-free” and “not entered” are not the same

An empty allergen field does not mean “contains no allergens”; it only means no information was given. Missing or wrong information for loose food can be prosecuted as an administrative offence.

Cross-contact can occur in the kitchen, for example on the same grill, in the same fryer or on the same work surface. Only make claims such as “allergen-free” when you can stand behind them. Otherwise it is safer to mark only the allergens actually in the recipe and to communicate the cross-contact risk through staff.

In QrConnector, a dish with no allergen information at all appears in the guest menu as “No allergen information entered”; an empty field is not read as “contains no allergens”.

What QrConnector offers for this

• The 14 EU allergens and dietary labels (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) on every dish, included in the free plan.
• An allergen list per dish in the guest menu, including the “not entered” state.
• When the menu changes, printed QR codes stay the same; guests always see the current version.

This page gives general information and is not legal advice. For questions about your business, ask a lawyer or the competent food inspection authority.