Glossary A–ZLetter A
Allergen labelling (FIC Regulation)
Allergen labelling is the obligation to state which ingredients in a food can cause allergies or intolerances.
It comes from the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011), known in German as LMIV. Its Annex II lists 14 substances and products, including cereals containing gluten, milk, eggs and nuts.
The obligation also applies to non-prepacked food, for example in bakeries, staff canteens and restaurants. In Germany, a supplementary implementing regulation governs how the information must be provided there. A screen can play a part in this: as a menu board that lists the allergens for each dish, or as a fixed strip telling guests where to find the information.
What matters is that the information is reliable and visible at the right moment. A screen that rotates through dishes may show the information only briefly. When the menu changes, the allergen information has to change with it, otherwise the new dish carries the old details. What is sufficient in an individual case should be clarified with a qualified adviser; this glossary is not legal advice.